The 2001-02 campaign was a season of spectacular emergence for Kaiserslautern, as Die roten Teufel secured a respectable 7th-place finish in the Bundesliga and a return to European football via the Intertoto Cup. Leading the charge was the sensational young striker Miroslav Klose, whose 16 goals proved decisive in his breakout year, establishing him as a national star and propelling him to an unforgettable performance at the 2002 World Cup. This campaign marked a crucial step forward for the club under manager Andreas Brehme and remains a defining chapter in the ascent of one of Germany's greatest forwards.