When it comes to German football, Schalke are always there or thereabouts.
Gone are the glory years of the early 20th century, which saw seven Bundesliga wins, but the Gelsenkirchen-based side are always a force to be reckoned with.
They bagged the German Cup as recently as 2011 and, in the same season, even reached the Champions League semi-finals.
Their current team sit second in Germany's top division this season but lie a staggering 20 points below the seemingly indomitable Bayern Munich.
That's not exactly a criticism of Schalke when Bayern have dominated for so long, however.
Nevertheless, Schalke have had quite the run of players in their history and there's every reason to suggest they would be much closer to top spot if they could recoup some of their old stars.
In fact, you wouldn't put it past them going far in the Champions League when you take a look at their options.
So, as a result, here is Schalke's best possible XI if they never sold any of their top players.
GK | Manuel Neuer
Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world isn't a bad place to start things off. Neuer sparked controversy when he left Schalke for Bayern in 2011, but a World Cup win and third place Ballon d'Or finish have followed since.
RB | Rafinha
Another player to swap Schalke for Bayern. After five years in Gelsenkirchen and a brief spell with Genoa, Rafinha moved to the Allianz Arena where he has made 231 appearances and collected four caps for Brazil.
CB | Joel Matip
Not always in the good books of Liverpool fans but a solid centre-back nonetheless. Before moving to Anfield, Matip had spent his entire career with Schalke and turned out for them 258 times.
CB | Benedikt Howedes
Currently plagued by injuries on loan at Juventus, Howedes remains a Schalke player and consistently made Germany's starting XI in their victorious 2014 World Cup campaign.
LB | Sead Kolasinac
Another Premier League defender making the cut and a player who was always perfectly suited for England's physicality. Only waved goodbye to Schalke over the summer and, on the whole, is impressing with the Gunners.
RM | Julian Draxler
Draxler was constantly linked with a move to a top European club during his time with Schalke and has been unlucky with his recent spells at Wolfsburg and Paris Saint-Germain.
CM | Ivan Rakitic
An absolute stalwart at Barcelona, Rakitic's career has flown since his spell with Schalke. He is 206 appearances deep into his time at the Nou Camp and has a Champions League title, two La Liga trophies and a pair of Copa del Rey wins to show for it.
CM | Leon Goretzka
It's hard to look past Schalke's current midfield maestro Goretzka when it comes to the second slot in the centre of the park. Nevertheless, he will also pursue a move to Bayern Munich, like Neuer and Rafinha before him, in the summer.
LM | Leroy Sane
Schalke had one of Europe's finest young talents on their hands in Sane and the German has only improved since his Manchester City switch. One of the favourites for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
CAM | Mesut Ozil
Who better to have leading the midfield than the king of assists himself? While his career has somewhat plateaued at Arsenal, few players in world football can match his passing and creativity.
ST | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
You could argue that with such a good midfield, Huntelaar is a little disappointing up front but the Dutchman was prolific in his prime. The ex-Real Madrid man left Schalke after seven years last summer.