Between 2010 and 2012, 1. FC Nürnberg enjoyed a highly stable period in the Bundesliga under manager Dieter Hecking, securing consecutive mid-table finishes. In the 2010–11 season, the club achieved a remarkable 6th-place finish and reached the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, powered by Julian Schieber's 10 goals. Despite losing key talent, they sustained this momentum in the 2011–12 season to finish 10th in the league and reach the DFB-Pokal round of 16, led by top scorer Tomáš Pekhart.