| Club: | FC Schalke 04 |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Manager: | Jörg Berger[1] (until 5 October) Huub Stevens (from 5 October) |
| League: | Bundesliga |
| League Result: | 12th |
| Cup1: | DFB-Pokal |
| Cup1 Result: | Second round |
| Cup2: | UEFA Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Winners |
| League Topscorer: | Martin Max (12) |
| Season Topscorer: | Martin Max (16) |
| Pattern B1: | _SCHALKE04_9697h |
| Pattern Sh1: | _SCHALKE04_9697 |
| Pattern So1: | _3_stripes_white |
| Leftarm1: | 0000FF |
| Body1: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm1: | 0000FF |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | 0000FF |
| Pattern B2: | _SCHALKE04_9697a |
| Pattern Sh2: | _SCHALKE04_9697 |
| Pattern So2: | _3_stripes_blue |
| Leftarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Body2: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts2: | 0000FF |
| Socks2: | FFFFFF |
| Prevseason: | 1995–96 |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
The 1996–97 season was the 93rd season in the history of FC Schalke 04 and the club's sixth consecutive season in the top flight of German football.
Schalke claimed the UEFA Cup, defeating Roy Hodgson's Inter Milan 2–1 on aggregate in the final. The European triumph allowed Schalke to compete in the UEFA Cup the next season despite a 12th placed finish - a disappointing finish after finishing third the previous season.
Squad at end of season[2]
See main article: 1996–97 Bundesliga.
See main article: 1996–97 DFB-Pokal.
See main article: 1996–97 UEFA Cup.
See main article: 1997 UEFA Cup Final.
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