Fußball-Bundesliga, the second tier of German football.

It was the club's first season back in this league, after it was relegated from the Fußball-Bundesliga in 2012.

They were denied an instant return to the top flight after finishing 3rd and losing in the relegation play-offs to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 5–2 on aggregate.

The club also took part in the 2012–13 edition of the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup, where it reached the second round being eliminated by Bundesliga side FC Bayern Munich.

FC Kaiserslautern hired Franco Foda as their new head coach.