Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach was founded on 1 August 1900 in the western German town of Mönchengladbach. The "Borussia" name, like Borussia Dortmund's, comes from the Latinised form of Prussia. The club's defining green-and-white-and-black colours, traditional foal (Fohlen) symbolism and attacking football culture trace to the 1970s. The club moved from the historic Bökelbergstadion to the modern Borussia-Park in 2004, capacity 54,022.
Borussia Mönchengladbach's golden era spanned 1969-1977 under coach Hennes Weisweiler. The "Fohlen" (Foals) — so-named for the youthful, exciting attacking style — won five Bundesliga titles in eight years (1969-70, 1970-71, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77), played gorgeous attacking football, and dominated the Bundesliga alongside Bayern Munich. The era's iconic players — Berti Vogts, Günter Netzer, Jupp Heynckes, Rainer Bonhof and Allan Simonsen (1977 Ballon d'Or winner) — remain legendary. The 1973-74 European Cup final ended in defeat to Bayern, but UEFA Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979 added European silverware.
Modern Borussia Mönchengladbach is no longer in title contention but retains a reputation for stylish football and developing top talent. The Lothar Matthäus (Bundesliga, World Cup, Ballon d'Or winner — all after leaving Mönchengladbach) and Stefan Effenberg eras of the late 1980s preceded sustained mid-table existence. Recent academy products include Marco Reus (returned to Borussia Dortmund in 2012), Marc-André ter Stegen (now at Barcelona), Lars Stindl and Patrick Herrmann. The Rhine Derby against 1. FC Köln defines the club's regional identity, with the secondary rivalry against Bayer Leverkusen also significant.