The 2010-11 campaign was a season of soaring ambition for VfL Bochum, as Die Unabsteigbaren surged to a 3rd-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga under manager Friedhelm Funkel, mounting a strong challenge for an immediate return to the top flight. Leading the charge was the high-profile summer signing and North Korean international, Jong Tae-se, whose 10 goals proved vital in a campaign built on momentum. The season culminated in a dramatic, but ultimately unsuccessful, Promotion Play-off run, a moment of heartbreak that remains a defining chapter in the club's recent history.