Bundesliga

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This article is about the German men's football league. For the German women's football league, see Frauen-Bundesliga. For other uses, see Bundesliga (disambiguation).
Bundesliga
Bundesliga logo (2017).svg
Organising body Deutsche Fußball Liga
Founded 1963; 54 years ago (1963)
Country Germany
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams 18
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to 2. Bundesliga
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current champions Bayern Munich (26th title)
(2016–17)
Most championships Bayern Munich (26 titles)
Most capped player Germany Karl-Heinz Körbel (602)
Top goalscorer Germany Gerd Müller (365)
TV partners
Website bundesliga.com
2017–18 Bundesliga

The Bundesliga [ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa] (lit. English: "Federal League", sometimes referred to as the Fußball-Bundesliga [ˈfuːsbal ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa] or 1. Bundesliga [ˈeːɐ̯stə ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa]), is a professional association football league in Germany and the football league with the highest average stadium attendance worldwide. At the top of the German football league system, the Bundesliga is Germany's primary football competition. The Bundesliga is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga. Seasons run from August to May. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played on weekdays. All of the Bundesliga clubs qualify for the DFB-Pokal. The winner of the Bundesliga qualifies for the DFL-Supercup.

A total of 54 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga since its founding. FC Bayern Munich has won the Bundesliga the most, winning the title 26 times. However, the Bundesliga has seen other champions with Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfB Stuttgart most prominent among them. The Bundesliga is one of the top national leagues, currently ranked second in Europe according to UEFA's league coefficient ranking, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons.[1] The Bundesliga is the number one football league in the world in terms of average attendance; out of all sports, its average of 45,134 fans per game during the 2011–12 season was the second highest of any sports league in the world after the National Football League.[2] The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries.[3]

The Bundesliga was founded in 1962 in Dortmund and the first season started in 1963. The structure and organisation of the Bundesliga along with Germany's other football leagues have undergone frequent changes right up to the present day. The Bundesliga was founded by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (English: German Football Association), but is now operated by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (English: German Football League).

Overview[edit]

The winner of the Bundesliga receives the "Deutsche Meisterschale" (English: "German championship trophy")

The Bundesliga is composed of two divisions: the 1. Bundesliga (although it is rarely referred to with the First prefix), and, below that, the 2. Bundesliga (2nd Bundesliga), which has been the second tier of German football since 1974. The Bundesligen (plural) are professional leagues. Since 2008, the 3. Liga (3rd League) in Germany has also been a professional league, but may not be called Bundesliga because the league is run by the German Football Association (DFB) and not, as are the two Bundesligen, by the German Football League (Deutsche Fußball-Liga or DFL).

Below the level of the 3. Liga, leagues are generally subdivided on a regional basis. For example, the Regionalligen are currently made up of Nord (North), Nordost (Northeast), Süd (South), Südwest (Southwest) and West divisions. Below this are thirteen parallel divisions, most of which are called Oberligen (upper leagues) which represent federal states or large urban and geographical areas. The levels below the Oberligen differ between the local areas. The league structure has changed frequently and typically reflects the degree of participation in the sport in various parts of the country. In the early 1990s, changes were driven by the reunification of Germany and the subsequent integration of the national league of East Germany.

Every team in the two Bundesligen must have a licence to play in the league, or else they are relegated into the regional leagues. To obtain a licence, teams must be financially healthy and meet certain standards of conduct as organisations.

As in other national leagues, there are significant benefits to being in the top division:

  • A greater share of television broadcast licence revenues goes to 1. Bundesliga sides.
  • 1. Bundesliga teams draw significantly greater levels of fan support. Average attendance in the first league is 42,673 per game — more than twice the average of the 2. Bundesliga.
  • Greater exposure through television and higher attendance levels helps 1. Bundesliga teams attract the most lucrative sponsorships.
  • 1. Bundesliga teams develop substantial financial muscle through the combination of television and gate revenues, sponsorships and marketing of their team brands. This allows them to attract and retain skilled players from domestic and international sources and to construct first-class stadium facilities.

The 1. Bundesliga is financially strong, and the 2. Bundesliga has begun to evolve in a similar direction, becoming more stable organizationally and financially, and reflecting an increasingly higher standard of professional play.

Borussia Dortmund against rivals Schalke, known as the Revierderby, in the Bundesliga in 2009

Internationally, the most well-known German clubs include Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, Hamburger SV, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen. Hamburger SV is the only club to have played continuously in the Bundesliga since its foundation.

In the 2008–09 season, the Bundesliga reinstated an earlier German system of promotion and relegation, which had been in use from 1981 until 1991:

  • The bottom two finishers in the Bundesliga are automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, with the top two finishers in the 2. Bundesliga taking their places.
  • The third-from-bottom club in the Bundesliga will play a two-legged tie with the third-place team from the 2. Bundesliga, with the winner taking up the final place in the following season's Bundesliga.

From 1992 until 2008, a different system had been used in which the bottom three finishers of the Bundesliga had been automatically relegated, to be replaced by the top three finishers in the 2. Bundesliga. From 1963 until 1981 two, or later three, teams had been relegated from the Bundesliga automatically, while promotion had been decided either completely or partially in promotion play-offs.

The season starts in early August[4] and lasts until late May, with a winter break of six weeks (mid-December through to the end of January). In recent years, games have been played on Saturdays (five games beginning at 3:30 pm and one game beginning at 6:30 pm) and Sundays (one game beginning at 3:30 pm and one game at 5:30 pm). A new television deal in 2006 reintroduced a Friday game (beginning at 8:30 pm).

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

For more details on this topic, see History of German football.

Prior to the formation of the Bundesliga, German football was played at an amateur level in a large number of sub-regional leagues until, in 1949, part-time (semi-) professionalism was introduced and only five regional Oberligen (Premier Leagues) remained. Regional champions and runners-up played a series of playoff matches for the right to compete in a final game for the national championship. On 28 January 1900, a national association, the Deutscher Fußball Bund (DFB) had been founded in Leipzig with 86 member clubs. The first recognised national championship team was VfB Leipzig, who beat DFC Prague 7–2 in a game played at Altona on 31 May 1903.

Through the 1950s, there were continued calls for the formation of a central professional league, especially as professional leagues in other countries began to draw Germany's best players away from the semi-professional domestic leagues. At the international level the German game began to falter as German teams often fared poorly against professional teams from other countries. A key supporter of the central league concept was national team head coach Sepp Herberger who said, “If we want to remain competitive internationally, we have to raise our expectations at the national level.”

Meanwhile, in East Germany, a separate league was established with the formation of the DS-Oberliga (Deutscher Sportausschuss Oberliga) in 1950. The league was renamed the Football Oberliga DFV in 1958 and was generally referred to simply as the DDR-Liga or DDR-Oberliga. The league fielded 14 teams with two relegation spots.

Foundation[edit]

Main article: Introduction of the Bundesliga
The Bundesliga was founded at the annual DFB convention at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund on 28 July 1962

The defeat of the national team by Yugoslavia (0–1) in a 1962 World Cup quarter-final game in Chile was one impetus (of many) towards the formation of a national league. At the annual DFB convention under new DFB president Hermann Gösmann (elected that very day) the Bundesliga was created in Dortmund at the Westfalenhallen on 28 July 1962 to begin play starting with the 1963–64 season.[5]

At the time, there were five Oberligen (Premier Leagues) in place representing West Germany's North, South, West, Southwest, and Berlin. East Germany, behind the Iron Curtain, maintained its separate league structure. 46 clubs applied for admission to the new league. 16 teams were selected based on their success on the field, economic criteria and representation of the various Oberligen.

The first Bundesliga games were played on 24 August 1963. Early favourite 1. FC Köln was the first Bundesliga champion (with 45:19 points) over second place clubs Meidericher SV and Eintracht Frankfurt (both 39:25).

Reunification[edit]

Following German reunification, the East German leagues were merged into the West German system. Dynamo Dresden and F.C. Hansa Rostock were seeded into the top-tier Bundesliga division, with other clubs being sorted into lower tiers.

Competition format[edit]

Heung-Min Son of Hamburg against Eljero Elia of Werder Bremen in the Nordderby

The German football champion is decided strictly by play in the Bundesliga. Each club plays every other club once at home and once away. Originally, a victory was worth two points, with one point for a draw and none for a loss. Since the 1995–96 season, a victory has been worth three points, while a draw remains worth a single point, and zero points are given for a loss. The club with the most points at the end of the season becomes German champion. Currently, the top three clubs in the table qualify automatically for the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, while the fourth-place team enters the Champions League at the third qualifying round (see overview). The two teams at the bottom of the table are relegated into the 2. Bundesliga, while the top two teams in the 2. Bundesliga are promoted. The 16th-placed team (third-last), and the third-placed team in the 2. Bundesliga play a two-leg play-off match. The winner of this match plays the next season in the Bundesliga, and the loser in the 2. Bundesliga.

If teams are level on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order:

  1. Goal difference for the entire season
  2. Total goals scored for the entire season
  3. Head-to-head results (total points)
  4. Head-to-head goals scored
  5. Head-to-head away goals scored
  6. Total away goals scored for the entire season

If two clubs are still tied after all of these tie-breakers have been applied, a single match is held at a neutral site to determine the placement. However, this has never been necessary in the history of the Bundesliga.

In terms of team selection, matchday squads must have no more than five non-EU representatives. Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.

Changes in league structure[edit]

  • Number of teams:
    • 1963–64 to 1964–65: 16
    • 1965–66 to 1990–91: 18
    • 1991–92: 20, while the East German league was being included after German reunification
    • Since 1992–93: 18
  • Number of teams relegated (automatic relegation except as noted):
    • 1963–64 to 1973–74: 2
    • 1974–75 to 1980–81: 3
    • 1981–82 to 1990–91: 2 automatic plus the 16th-place team in the First Bundesliga played a two-leg relegation match against the third-place team of the Second Bundesliga for the final spot in the First Bundesliga
    • 1991–92: 4
    • 1992–93 to 2007–08: 3
    • Since 2008–09: 2 automatic plus the 16th-place team in the First Bundesliga playing a two-leg relegation match against the third-place team of the Second Bundesliga for the final spot in the First Bundesliga

Qualification for European competitions[edit]

  • 1st, 2nd place and 3rd place: Group phase of UEFA Champions League
  • 4th place: Play-off round of Champions League for non-champions. Winners at this stage enter the group phase; losers enter the group phase of UEFA Europa League.
  • 5th place: Group stage of Europa League
  • 6th place: Third qualifying round of Europa League
  • Until the 2016–17 season, an additional place in the Europa League could also be granted via the UEFA Fair Play mechanism. This rule was maintained from the UEFA Cup. The last Bundesliga team to gain entry to the UEFA Cup via the fair play rule was Mainz 05 in 2005–06.
  • DFB-Pokal (German Cup) winner: Qualifies for group phase of UEFA Europa League regardless of league position.
    • Until 2015–16, if the Cup winner qualified for the Champions League, the cup winner's place in the Europa League went to the defeated cup finalist if it had not already qualified for European competition, although the defeated cup finalist would enter the competition a stage earlier than if it had won the Cup. This rule was retained from the Europa League's predecessor, the UEFA Cup. From 2015–16, the runners-up no longer qualify for the Europa league and the Europa League berth reserved for the DFB-Pokal winners is transferred to the highest finisher below the Champions League qualification places.

The number of German clubs which may participate in UEFA competitions is determined by UEFA coefficients, which take into account the results of a particular nation's clubs in UEFA competitions over the preceding five years.

History of European qualification
  • European Cup/Champions League:
    • Up to and including 1996–97: German champion only.
    • 1997–99: Top two teams; champions automatically into group phase, runners-up entered the qualifying round.
    • 1999–2008: Top two teams automatically into first group phase (only one group phase starting in 2003–04). Depending on the DFB's UEFA coefficients standing, either one or two other clubs (most recently one) entered at the third qualifying round; winners at this level entered the group phase.
    • 2008–2011: Top two teams automatically into group phase. Third placed team had to play in the play-off round for the right to play in the group stage.
  • UEFA Cup/Europa League:
    • From 1971–72 to 1998–99, UEFA member nations could send between one and four teams to the UEFA Cup. Germany was always entitled to send at least three teams to the competition and often as many as four. From 1978–79, the number of participants was determined by the DFB's UEFA coefficient standing, prior to this the method for deciding the number of participants is unknown. The best performing teams in the league other than the champion would qualify, although if one of these teams was also winner of the DFB-Pokal then they would enter the Cup Winners' Cup instead and their UEFA Cup place would be taken by the next highest-placed team in the league (5th or 6th place). Briefly in the mid-1970s the DFB decided to allocate the last UEFA Cup place to the DFB-Pokal runner-up instead of a third or fourth team qualified by performance in the league, meaning that at this point the DFB-Pokal qualified two teams for European competition (winners for the Cup Winners' Cup, runners-up for the UEFA Cup). This policy was unique amongst UEFA member associations and was dropped after only a few seasons. Starting with the 1999–2000 season and the abolition of the Cup Winners' Cup (which was then folded into the UEFA Cup), the DFB-Pokal winner now automatically qualified for the UEFA Cup alongside, depending on the DFB's UEFA coefficients standing, between one and three extra participants (if the DFB-Pokal winner also qualified for the Champions League, they were replaced by the DFB-Pokal runner-up; if they were also qualified for the Champions League, the UEFA Cup place went to the next best placed team in the league not otherwise qualified for European competition). Since 1999, the DFB has always been entitled to enter a minimum of three clubs in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, and at times as many as four (the maximum for any European federation). Teams that entered via UEFA's Fair Play mechanism, or those that entered through the now-defunct Intertoto Cup, did not count against the national quota. From 2006 through the final Intertoto Cup in 2008, only one First Bundesliga side was eligible to enter the Intertoto Cup and possibly earn a UEFA Cup berth. For the 2005–06 season, the DFB earned an extra UEFA Cup place via the Fair Play draw; this place went to Mainz 05 as the highest-ranked club in the Fair Play table of the First Bundesliga not already qualified for Europe.
  • Cup Winners' Cup (abolished after 1999):
    • The winner of the DFB-Pokal entered the Cup Winners' Cup, unless that team was also league champion and therefore competing in the European Cup/Champions League, in which case their place in the Cup Winners' Cup was taken by the DFB-Pokal runner-up. Today, the DFB-Pokal winner (if not otherwise qualified for the Champions League) enters the UEFA Europa League.

Clubs[edit]

Main article: 2016–17 Bundesliga
Club Position in 2015–16 First Bundesliga season Number of seasons in Bundesliga First season of current spell Number of seasons of current spell Bundesliga titles National titles Last title
FC Augsburgb 12th 2011–12 6 2011–12 6 0 0 -
Bayer Leverkusenb 3rd 1979–80 38 1979–80 38 0 0 -
Bayern Munichb 1st 1965–66 52 1965–66 52 25 26 2016
Borussia Dortmunda 2nd 1963–64 50 1976–77 41 5 8 2012
Borussia Mönchengladbach 4th 1965–66 49 2008–09 9 5 5 1977
Darmstadt 98a 14th 1978–79 4 2015–16 2 0 0 -
Eintracht Frankfurta 16th 1963–64 48 2012–13 5 0 1 1959
SC Freiburg 2.: 1st 1993–94 17 2016–17 1 0 0 -
Hamburger SVa b 10th 1963–64 54 1963–64 54 3 6 1983
Hertha BSCa 7th 1963–64 34 2013–14 4 0 2 1931
TSG 1899 Hoffenheimb 15th 2008–09 9 2008–09 9 0 0 -
FC Ingolstadtb 11th 2015–16 2 2015–16 2 0 0 -
1. FC Kölna 9th 1963–64 46 2014–15 3 2 3 1978
RB Leipzig 2.: 2nd 2016–17 1 2016–17 1 0 0 -
1. FSV Mainz 05 6th 2004–05 11 2009–10 8 0 0 -
Schalke 04a 5th 1963–64 49 1991–92 26 0 7 1958
Werder Bremena 13th 1963–64 53 1981–82 36 4 4 2004
VfL Wolfsburgb 8th 1997–98 20 1997–98 20 1 1 2009

a Founding member of the Bundesliga
b Never been relegated from the Bundesliga

Locations of the 2016–17 Bundesliga teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ref.
FC Augsburg Augsburg WWK ARENA 30,660
Bayer Leverkusen Leverkusen BayArena 30,210
Bayern Munich Munich Allianz Arena 75,000
Borussia Dortmund Dortmund Signal Iduna Park 81,359 [6]
Borussia Mönchengladbach Mönchengladbach Stadion im Borussia-Park 54,010
Darmstadt 98 Darmstadt Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor 17,000
Eintracht Frankfurt Frankfurt Commerzbank-Arena 51,500
SC Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Schwarzwald-Stadion 24,000
Hamburger SV Hamburg Volksparkstadion 57,000
Hertha BSC Berlin Olympiastadion 74,475
TSG Hoffenheim Sinsheim Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena 30,150
FC Ingolstadt Ingolstadt Audi Sportpark 15,000
1. FC Köln Cologne RheinEnergieSTADION 50,000
RB Leipzig Leipzig Red Bull Arena 42,959 [7]
Mainz 05 Mainz Coface Arena 34,000
Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen Veltins-Arena 62,271 [8]
Werder Bremen Bremen Weserstadion 42,100
VfL Wolfsburg Wolfsburg Volkswagen Arena 30,000

Business model[edit]

In the 2009–10 season, the Bundesliga's turnover was €1.7bn, broken down into match-day revenue (€424m), sponsorship receipts (€573m) and broadcast income (€594m). That year it was the only European football league where clubs collectively made a profit. Bundesliga clubs paid less than 50% of revenue in players wages, the lowest percentage out of the European leagues. The Bundesliga has the lowest ticket prices and the highest average attendance out of Europe's five major leagues.[9]

The Allianz Arena, home venue of Bayern Munich, was the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior.

Bundesliga clubs tend to form close associations with local firms, several of which have since grown to big global companies; in a comparison of the leading Bundesliga and Premiership clubs, Bayern Munich received 55% of its revenue from company sponsorship deals, while Manchester United got 37%.[9][10][11][12]

Bundesliga clubs are required to be majority-owned by German club members (known as the 50+1 rule (de) to discourage control by a single entity) and operate under tight restrictions on the use of debt for acquisitions (a team only receives an operating license if it has solid financials), as a result 11 of the 18 clubs were in the black after the 2008–09 season. By contrast the lax approach of the other major European leagues has resulted in several high-profile teams coming under ownership of tycoons and Middle Eastern billionaires, and a larger number of clubs have high levels of debt.[11][12]

After 2000 the German Football Association and the Bundesliga mandated that all clubs run a youth academy, with the aim of bolstering the stream of local talent for the club and national team. As of 2010 the Bundesliga and second Bundesliga spend €75m a year on these youth academies, that train five thousand players aged 12–18, increasing the under-23-year-olds in the Bundesliga from 6% in 2000 to 15% in 2010. This allows more money to be spent on the players that are bought, and there is a greater chance to buy better instead of average players.[9][11][12]

In the first ten years of the second millennium, the Bundesliga is regarded as competitive, as five different teams have won the league title. This contrasts with Spain's La Liga which is dominated by the "Big Two" (Barcelona and Real Madrid), and the English Premier League which has seen the "Big Four" (Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal) finish in the top four for a number of years.[13] This theory has been called into question because of Bayern Munich's dominance in the 2012–13 to 2016–17 seasons as the Bavarian side is able to spend big to purchase the league's best players and the Premier League's four different winners in four seasons.[14][15]

Financial regulations[edit]

For a number of years, the clubs in the Bundesliga have been subject to regulations not unlike the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations agreed upon in September 2009.

At the end of each season, clubs in the Bundesliga must apply to the German Football Federation (DFB) for a licence to participate again the following year; only when the DFB, who have access to all transfer documents and accounts, are satisfied that there is no threat of insolvency do they give approval.[16] The DFB have a system of fines and points deductions for clubs who flout rules and those who go into the red can only buy a player after selling one for at least the same amount. In addition, no individual is allowed to own more than 49 percent of any Bundesliga club, the only exceptions being VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen and current Regionalliga Nordost member FC Carl Zeiss Jena should they ever be promoted to the Bundesliga as they were each founded as factory teams.[10]

The Commerzbank Arena, is the home ground of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Despite the good economic governance, there have still been some instances of clubs getting into difficulties. In 2004, Borussia Dortmund reported a debt of €118.8 million (£83 million).[17] Having won the Champions League in 1997 and a number of Bundesliga titles, Dortmund had gambled to maintain their success with an expensive group of largely foreign players but failed, narrowly escaping liquidation in 2006. In subsequent years, the club went through extensive restructuring to return to financial health, largely with young home-grown players. In 2004 Hertha BSC reported debts of £24.7 million and were able to continue in the Bundesliga only after proving they had long term credit with their bank.[17]

The leading German club FC Bayern Munich made a net profit of just €2.5 million in 2008–09 season (group accounts,[18] while Schalke 04 made a net loss of €30.4 million in 2009 financial year.[19] Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA, made a net loss of just €2.9 million in 2008–09 season.[20]

Attendances[edit]

Main article: Bundesliga attendance

Based on its per-game average, the Bundesliga is the best-attended association football league in the world; out of all sports, its average of 45,116 fans per game during the 2011–12 season was the second highest of any professional sports league worldwide, behind only the National Football League of the United States.[2] Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has the highest average attendance of any football club in the world.[21]

Out of Europe's five major football leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A ), the Bundesliga has the lowest ticket prices and the highest average attendance. Many club stadia have large terraced areas for standing fans (by comparison, stadia in the English Premier League are all-seaters due to the Taylor Report). Teams limit the number of season tickets to ensure everyone has a chance to see the games live, and the away club has the right to 10% of the available capacity. Match tickets often double as free rail passes which encourages supporters to travel and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere. According to Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert, tickets are inexpensive (especially for standing room) as "It is not in the clubs' culture so much [to raise prices]. They are very fan orientated".[9][11][12] Uli Hoeneß, former president of Bayern Munich, was quoted as saying "We do not think the fans are like cows to be milked. Football has got to be for everybody."[10]

The Bundesliga has the highest average attendance of any football league in the world. Borussia Dortmund has the highest average attendance at Signal Iduna Park of any football club in the world.

The spectator figures for league for the last ten seasons:

Spectators
Season Overall Average Best supported club Average
2006–07 [22] 12,226,795 39,957 Borussia Dortmund 72,652
2007–08 [23] 12,069,813 39,444 Borussia Dortmund 72,510
2008–09 [24] 13,011,578 42,521 Borussia Dortmund 74,851
2009–10 [25] 13,001,871 42,490 Borussia Dortmund 77,246
2010–11 [26] 13,054,960 42,663 Borussia Dortmund 79,151
2011–12 [27] 13,805,514 45,116 Borussia Dortmund 80,521
2012–13 [28] 13,042,263 42,622 Borussia Dortmund 80,520
2013–14 [29] 13,311,145 43,500 Borussia Dortmund 80,297
2014–15 [30] 13,323,031 43,539 Borussia Dortmund 80,463
2015–16 [31] 13,249,778 43,300 Borussia Dortmund 81,178
2016–17 [32] 12,703,167 41,514 Borussia Dortmund 79,653

Media coverage[edit]

Domestic[edit]

The Bundesliga TV, radio, internet, and mobile broadcast rights are distributed by DFL Sports Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Deutsche Fußball Liga. The Bundesliga broadcast rights are sold along with the broadcast rights to the Bundesliga Relegation Playoffs, 2. Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup.[33]

TV:
From 2017—18 to 2020—21 Bundesliga matches are broadcast on TV in Germany on ARD (a live fixture each Saturday and Sunday), Eurosport (a live fixture on Fridays) and Sky (most fixtures on Saturdays and Sundays). Sport1 broadcasts highlights on Sunday mornings and Perform has digital clip rights.[34]

Radio
ARD radios (WDR, NDR, BR, SWR and others).

Global[edit]

The Bundesliga is broadcast on TV in over 200 countries

The Bundesliga is broadcast on TV in over 200 countries. In October 2013, 21st Century Fox, via the Fox Sports, Fox International Channels, and Sky plc divisions, acquired television and digital rights to the Bundesliga in 80 territories, including North America and Asia (outside of India and Oceania) for five years, and selected European territories for two years, beginning in the 2015–16 season. CEO James Murdoch explained that the deal was designed to "leverage our unrivaled global portfolio of sports channels to bolster the Bundesliga brand in every corner of the globe."[35][36]

As a result of this partnership, Fox Sports replaced GOL TV as United States rightsholder beginning in the 2015–16 season. Matches are broadcast by Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports Networks and Fox Soccer Plus. Spanish-language telecasts air on Fox Deportes. Matches stream online for subscribers to these channels on participating providers via Fox Sports Go, and are also available through the subscription service Fox Soccer 2Go.[37][38] In Canada, broadcast rights were sub-licensed to Sportsnet and Sportsnet World.[39]

In the United Kingdom and in Ireland, the Bundesliga is broadcast live on BT Sport. ITV4 broadcasts delayed highlights the following Monday. This arrangement lasts through the 2017 season. In Spain, the Bundesliga is broadcast live on Movistar+.[40]

In 2015, digital TV operator StarTimes acquired exclusive television rights for Sub-Saharan Africa for 5 years starting from 2015-2016 season.[41]

Champions[edit]

Main article: List of German football champions

In total, 43 clubs have won the German championship, including titles won before the Bundesliga's inception and those in the East German Oberliga. The record champions are FC Bayern Munich with 27 titles,[42] ahead of BFC Dynamo Berlin with 10 (all in East Germany) and 1. FC Nürnberg with 9.

The following 12 clubs have won the Bundesliga: FC Bayern Munich (26 titles), Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund (5), Werder Bremen (4), Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart (3), 1. FC Köln and FC Kaiserslautern (2), TSV 1860 Munich, Eintracht Braunschweig, 1. FC Nürnberg and VfL Wolfsburg (1). No club from former East Germany or Berlin has won the Bundesliga.

Season Bundesliga Champion[43] Season Bundesliga Champion Season Bundesliga Champion Season Bundesliga Champion
63–64 1. FC Köln 77–78 1. FC Köln 91–92 VfB Stuttgart 05–06 FC Bayern Munich
64–65 SV Werder Bremen 78–79 Hamburger SV 92–93 SV Werder Bremen 06–07 VfB Stuttgart
65–66 TSV 1860 München 79–80 FC Bayern Munich 93–94 FC Bayern Munich 07–08 FC Bayern Munich
66–67 Eintracht Braunschweig 80–81 FC Bayern Munich 94–95 Borussia Dortmund 08–09 VfL Wolfsburg
67–68 1. FC Nürnberg 81–82 Hamburger SV 95–96 Borussia Dortmund 09–10 FC Bayern Munich
68–69 FC Bayern Munich 82–83 Hamburger SV 96–97 FC Bayern Munich 10–11 Borussia Dortmund
69–70 Borussia Mönchengladbach 83–84 VfB Stuttgart 97–98 1. FC Kaiserslautern 11–12 Borussia Dortmund
70–71 Borussia Mönchengladbach 84–85 FC Bayern Munich 98–99 FC Bayern Munich 12–13 FC Bayern Munich
71–72 FC Bayern Munich 85–86 FC Bayern Munich 99–00 FC Bayern Munich 13–14 FC Bayern Munich
72–73 FC Bayern Munich 86–87 FC Bayern Munich 00–01 FC Bayern Munich 14–15 FC Bayern Munich
73–74 FC Bayern Munich 87–88 SV Werder Bremen 01–02 Borussia Dortmund 15–16 FC Bayern Munich
74–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach 88–89 FC Bayern Munich 02–03 FC Bayern Munich 16–17 FC Bayern Munich
75–76 Borussia Mönchengladbach 89–90 FC Bayern Munich 03–04 SV Werder Bremen
76–77 Borussia Mönchengladbach 90–91 1. FC Kaiserslautern 04–05 FC Bayern Munich

Honours[edit]

Oliver Kahn won eight Bundesliga championships

In 2004, the honour of "Verdiente Meistervereine" (roughly “distinguished champion clubs”) was introduced, following a custom first practised in Italy[44] to recognize sides that have won multiple championships or other honours by the display of gold stars on their team badges and jerseys. Each country's usage is unique and in Germany the practice is to award one star for three titles, two stars for five titles, three stars for 10 titles, and four stars for 20 titles.

The former East German side Berliner FC Dynamo laid claim to the three stars of a 10-time champion. They petitioned the league to have their DDR-Oberliga titles recognized, but received no reply. Dynamo eventually took matters into their own hands and emblazoned their jerseys with three stars. This caused some debate given what may be the tainted nature of their championships under the patronage of East Germany's secret police, the Stasi. The issue also affects other former East German and pre-Bundesliga champions. In November 2005, the DFB allowed all former champions to display a single star inscribed with the number of titles, including all German men's titles since 1903, women's titles since 1974 and East German titles.[45]

The DFB format only applies to teams playing below the Bundesliga (below the top two divisions), since the DFL conventions apply in the Bundesliga. BFC Dynamo Berlin have not followed this guideline and continue to wear three stars, rather than a single star inscribed with the number 10. Greuther Fürth unofficially display three (silver) stars for pre-war titles in spite of being in the Bundesliga second division. These stars are a permanent part of their crest. However, Fürth has to leave the stars out on their jersey.

As of June 2010 the following clubs are officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the Bundesliga. The number in parentheses is for Bundesliga titles won.

In addition, a system of one star designation was adopted for use. This system is intended to take into account not only Bundesliga titles but also other (now defunct) national championships. As of July 2014, the following clubs are allowed to wear one star while playing outside the Bundesliga. The number in parentheses is for total league championships won over the course of German football history, and would be displayed within the star. Some teams listed here had different names while winning their respective championships, these names are also noted in parentheses.

* currently member of 1. Bundesliga
** currently member of 2. Bundesliga
*** currently member of 3. Liga

Logo history[edit]

For the first time in 1996, the Bundesliga was given its own logo to distinguish itself. Six years later, the logo was revamped into a portrait orientation, which was used until 2010. A new logo was announced for the 2010–11 season in order to modernise the brand logo for all media platforms.[46] To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga, a special logo was developed for the 2012–13 season, featuring a "50" and "1963–2013".[47] Following the season, the 2010 logo was restored. In December 2016, it was announced that a new logo would be used for the 2017–18 season, modified slightly for digitisation requirements, featuring a matte look.[48]

  • Logo used from 1996–2002
  • Logo used from 2002–2006
  • Logo used from 2006–2010
  • Logo used from 2010–2012 and 2013–2017
  • Logo used during the 2012–13 season, the 50th Bundesliga season
  • New logo from the start of the 2017–18 season

Records[edit]

Main article: Bundesliga records

Appearances[edit]

As of 1 June 2016

Karl-Heinz Körbel
Top Ten Players With Most Appearances[49]
Player Period Club(s) Games
1 Germany Karl-Heinz Körbel 1972–1991 Eintracht Frankfurt 602
2 Germany Manfred Kaltz 1971–1991 Hamburger SV 581
3 Germany Oliver Kahn 1987–2008 Karlsruher SC, FC Bayern Munich 557
4 Germany Klaus Fichtel 1965–1988 FC Schalke 04, SV Werder Bremen 552
5 Germany Miroslav Votava 1976–1996 Borussia Dortmund, SV Werder Bremen 546
6 Germany Klaus Fischer 1968–1988 TSV 1860 München, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln, VfL Bochum 535
7 Germany Eike Immel 1978–1995 Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart 534
8 Germany Willi Neuberger 1966–1983 Borussia Dortmund, SV Werder Bremen, Eintracht Frankfurt 520
9 Germany Michael Lameck 1972–1988 VfL Bochum 518
10 Germany Uli Stein 1978–1997 Arminia Bielefeld, Hamburger SV, Eintracht Frankfurt 512

Top scorers[edit]

Main article: List of Bundesliga top scorers
As of 11 March 2017
Gerd Müller
Top ten goalscorers[50]
Player Period Club(s) Goals
1 Germany Gerd Müller 1965–1979 FC Bayern Munich 365 (Ø 0.85)
2 Germany Klaus Fischer 1968–1988 TSV 1860 München, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln, VfL Bochum 268 (Ø 0.50)
3 Germany Jupp Heynckes 1965–1978 Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hannover 96 220 (Ø 0.60)
4 Germany Manfred Burgsmüller 1969–1990 Rot-Weiss Essen, Borussia Dortmund, 1. FC Nürnberg, SV Werder Bremen 213 (Ø 0.48)
5 Peru Claudio Pizarro 1999– SV Werder Bremen, FC Bayern Munich 191 (Ø 0.45)
6 Germany Ulf Kirsten 1990–2003 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 182 (Ø 0.52)
7 Germany Stefan Kuntz 1983–1999 VfL Bochum, Bayer Uerdingen, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Arminia Bielefeld 179 (Ø 0.40)
8 Germany Dieter Müller 1973–1986 1. FC Köln, VfB Stuttgart, 1.FC Saarbrücken 177 (Ø 0.58)
Germany Klaus Allofs 1975–1993 Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Köln, SV Werder Bremen 177 (Ø 0.42)
10 Germany Hannes Löhr 1964–1977 1. FC Köln 166 (Ø 0.44)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  3. ^ "TV BROADCASTERS WORLDWIDE". 
  4. ^ German National Television
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External links[edit]

Media related to Fußball-Bundesliga (Germany) at Wikimedia Commons

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