Jump to content

Bundesliga

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bundesliga
Organising bodyDeutsche Fußball Liga (DFL)
Founded24 August 1963; 61 years ago (1963-08-24)
CountryGermany
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs18 (since 1992–93)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to2. Bundesliga
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current championsBayer Leverkusen (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsBayern Munich (32 titles)
Most appearancesCharly Körbel (602)
Top goalscorerGerd Müller (365)
TV partnersList of broadcasters
Websitebundesliga.com
Current: 2024–25 Bundesliga

The Bundesliga (German: [ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa] ; lit.'Federal League'), sometimes referred to as the Fußball-Bundesliga ([ˌfuːsbal-]) or 1. Bundesliga ([ˌeːɐ̯stə-]), is a professional football league in Germany located at the top of the German football league system. The Bundesliga comprises 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga. Seasons run from August to May. Games are played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a focus on Saturdays. All of the Bundesliga clubs take part in the DFB-Pokal cup competition. The winner of the Bundesliga qualifies for the DFL-Supercup.

Fifty-eight clubs have competed in the Bundesliga since its founding.[1] Bayern Munich has won 32 of 61 titles, as well as eleven consecutive seasons between 2013 and 2023, which is a record for a Big Five league. The Bundesliga has also 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, ranked fourth in Europe according to UEFA's league coefficient ranking for the current 2024–25 season, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons.[2] The Bundesliga led the UEFA ranking from 1976 to 1984 and in 1990. It has also produced the continent's top-rated club seven times. Bundesliga clubs have won eight UEFA Champions League, seven UEFA Europa League, four European Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cup, two FIFA Club World Cup, and three Intercontinental Cup titles. Its players have accumulated nine Ballon d'Or awards, two The Best FIFA Men's Player awards, five European Golden Shoe, and three UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards including UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

The Bundesliga is the number one association football league in the world in terms of anerage attendance, with an average of 39,512 spectators per game as of the 2023-24 season[3] making it the second-highest attendance of any sports league in the world after the American National Football League.[4] The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries.[5]

The Bundesliga was founded in 1962 in Dortmund[6] and the first season started in 1963–64. The structure and organisation of the Bundesliga, along with Germany's other football leagues, have undergone frequent changes. 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).

Structure

[edit]

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 (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 39,512 game—approximately 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.[citation needed]

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

No clubs have played continuously in the Bundesliga since its foundation; on 12 May 2018, Hamburger SV was the last founding club to be relegated for the first time.[7][8]

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

The season starts in early August[9] and lasts until late May, with a winter break of six weeks (mid-December through to the end of January). Starting with the 2002-03 season, opening matches were introduced to feature defending champions on Friday nights on the first match day. Defending champions have not lost the opening matches since then, winning 16 of the 21 matches (up to the 2022-23 season). Starting with the 2021–22 season, kick off times were changed with Friday matches starting at 8:30 pm, Saturdays at 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm, and Sundays at 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm.[10]

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

Before 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 recognized 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."[This quote needs a citation]

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]

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.[11]

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 favorite 1. FC Köln was the first Bundesliga champion with second place clubs Meidericher SV and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Reunification

[edit]

Following German reunification in 1990, the East German leagues were merged into the West German system. Dynamo Dresden and FC Hansa Rostock were seeded into the top-tier Bundesliga division ahead of the 1991–92 Bundesliga, with other clubs being sorted into lower tiers.[citation needed]

21st century

[edit]

Gazprom became a major sponsor of Bundesliga football in 2006, with Gerhard Schröder's climb to the top of the company.[12]

Competition format

[edit]
Son Heung-min of Hamburger SV 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, which makes a total of 34 matchdays per season. 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 the German champion. Currently, the top four clubs in the table qualify automatically for the group phase of the UEFA Champions League. 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) in the 1. Bundesliga 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 1. Bundesliga, and the losing side 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. Nine substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which five can be used in the duration of the game.

Changes in league structure

[edit]
  • Number of teams:
  • 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, 3rd, and 4th place: Group stage of UEFA Champions League
  • 5th place: Group stage of UEFA Europa League
  • 6th place: Play-off round of UEFA Europa Conference 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 the group stage of Europa League regardless of league position.
    • Until 2015–16, if the Cup winner qualified for the Champions League or Europa League by more than one method, the cup winner's place in the Europa League went to the losing cup finalist if it had not already qualified for European competition, entering 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 qualified for the Europa League, and the Europa League berth reserved for the DFB-Pokal winners is transferred to the highest finisher below the european qualification places.

The number of German clubs which may participate in UEFA competitions is determined by UEFA coefficients, which takes 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.
    • 2008–11: 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]
Club Position in 2023–24 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 11th 2011–12 14 2011–12 14 0 0
Bayer Leverkusenb 1st 1979–80 46 1979–80 46 1 1 2024
Bayern Munichb 3rd 1965–66 60 1965–66 60 32 33 2023
VfL Bochum 16th 1971–72 38 2021–22 4 0 0
Borussia Dortmunda 5th 1963–64 58 1976–77 49 5 8 2012
Borussia Mönchengladbach 14th 1965–66 57 2008–09 17 5 5 1977
Eintracht Frankfurta 6th 1963–64 56 2012–13 13 0 1 1959
SC Freiburg 10th 1993–94 25 2016–17 9 0 0
1. FC Heidenheimb 8th 2023–24 2 2023–24 2 0 0
TSG Hoffenheimb 7th 2008–09 17 2008–09 17 0 0
Holstein Kielb 2nd (2. B) 2024–25 1 2024–25 1 0 1 1912
RB Leipzigb 4th 2016–17 9 2016–17 9 0 0
Mainz 05 13th 2004–05 19 2009–10 16 0 0
FC St. Pauli 1st (2. B) 1977–78 9 2024–25 1 0 0
VfB Stuttgarta 2nd 1963–64 58 2020–21 5 3 5 2007
Union Berlinb 15th 2019–20 6 2019–20 6 0 0
Werder Bremena 9th 1963–64 60 2022–23 3 4 4 2004
VfL Wolfsburgb 12th 1997–98 28 1997–98 28 1 1 2009
a Founding member of the Bundesliga
b Never been relegated from the Bundesliga

Members for 2024–25

[edit]
Team Location Stadium Capacity R.
FC Augsburg Augsburg WWK Arena 30,660 [13]
Union Berlin Berlin Stadion An der Alten Försterei 22,012 [14]
VfL Bochum Bochum Vonovia Ruhrstadion 26,000 [15]
Werder Bremen Bremen Weserstadion 42,100 [16]
Borussia Dortmund Dortmund Signal Iduna Park 81,365 [17]
Eintracht Frankfurt Frankfurt Deutsche Bank Park 58,000 [18]
SC Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Europa-Park Stadion 34,700 [19]
1. FC Heidenheim Heidenheim Voith-Arena 15,000 [20]
TSG Hoffenheim Sinsheim PreZero Arena 30,150 [21]
Holstein Kiel Kiel Holstein-Stadion 15,034 [22]
RB Leipzig Leipzig Red Bull Arena 47,800 [23]
Bayer Leverkusen Leverkusen BayArena 30,210 [24]
Mainz 05 Mainz Mewa Arena 33,305 [25]
Borussia Mönchengladbach Mönchengladbach Borussia-Park 54,042 [26]
Bayern Munich Munich Allianz Arena 75,024 [27]
FC St. Pauli Hamburg Millerntor-Stadion 29,546 [28]
VfB Stuttgart Stuttgart MHPArena 60,058 [29]
VfL Wolfsburg Wolfsburg Volkswagen Arena 28,917 [30]

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 among Europe's five major leagues.[31]

Bundesliga clubs tend to form close associations with local firms, several of which have since grown into big global companies; in a comparison of leading Bundesliga and Premiership clubs, Bayern Munich received 55% of its revenue from company sponsorship deals, while Manchester United got 37%.[31][32][33][34]

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 licence if it has solid financials); as a result 11 of the 18 clubs were profitable after the 2008–09 season. By contrast, in the other major European leagues numerous high-profile teams have come under ownership of foreign billionaires and a significant number of clubs have high levels of debt.[33][34]

Exceptions to the 50+1 rule allow Bayer Leverkusen, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and VfL Wolfsburg to be owned by corporations or individual investors. In the cases of Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, the clubs were founded by major corporations (respectively Bayer AG and Volkswagen) as sports clubs for their employees, while Hoffenheim has long received its primary support from SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp, who played in the club's youth system.[35]

After 2000 the German Football Association and the Bundesliga required every club to run a youth academy with the aim of developing local talent for the club and the national team. As of 2010 the Bundesliga and second Bundesliga spend €75m a year on these youth academies, which train five thousand players aged 12–18. This increased the percentage of under-23-year-olds in the Bundesliga from 6% in 2000 to 15% in 2010. This in turn allows more money to be spent on the smaller number of players that are bought.[31][33][34]

In the 2000s, the Bundesliga was regarded as competitive, as five teams won the league title. This contrasted with the English Premier League, then dominated by a "Big Four" (Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal), as well as France's Ligue 1, won seven consecutive years by Lyon.[36] Since then, however, a resurgent Bayern Munich has won each year from 2013 to 2023.[37][38]

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.[39] 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 per cent 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.[32]

Deutsche Bank Park 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).[40] Having won the Champions League in 1997 and a number of Bundesliga titles, Dortmund had gambled on maintaining 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.[40]

The leading German club Bayern Munich made a net profit of just €2.5 million in 2008–09 season (group accounts),[41] while Schalke 04 made a net loss of €30.4 million in 2009 financial year.[42] Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA, made a net loss of just €2.9 million in 2008–09 season.[43]

Attendances

[edit]

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 39,512 spectators per game during the 2023–24 season is the second highest of any professional sports league worldwide, behind only the National Football League of the United States.[3] Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has the highest average attendance of any football club in the world.[44]

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".[31][33][34] Uli Hoeneß, 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."[32]

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:

Bundesliga Spectator Statistics
Season Overall Average Best supported club Average
2011–12[45] 13,805,514 45,116 Borussia Dortmund 80,521
2012–13[46] 13,042,263 42,622 80,520
2013–14[47] 13,311,145 43,500 80,297
2014–15[48] 13,323,031 43,539 80,463
2015–16[49] 13,249,778 43,300 81,178
2016–17[50] 12,703,167 41,514 79,653
2017–18[51] 13,661,796 44,646 79,496
2018–19[52] 13,298,147 43,458 80,820
2019–20[53] 09,112,950 29,781[54] Bayern Munich 57,353
2020–21[55] 00,163,705 00,535[56] Borussia Dortmund 01,282
2021–22[57] 04,641,988 21,039[58] 41,789
2022–23[59] 13,147,701 42,966 81,228
2023–24[60] 12,090,797 39,512 81,305

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 relegation playoffs, 2. Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup.[61]

From 2017 to 2018 to 2018–19, Bundesliga matches were broadcast on TV in Germany on Sky Deutschland and Eurosport. Prior to the 2019–20 season, Eurosport sublicensed its broadcast rights to sports streaming service DAZN, which will broadcast games previously allocated to Eurosport until the conclusion of the 2020–21 season.[62] Three Friday night matches – the openers of the first and second halves of the season, and on the final matchday before the winter break – are broadcast to all Germans on Sat. 1.

Starting with the 2018–19 season, Sky began arranging simulcasts of high-profile Saturday games on free TV to promote its coverage of the league. The April 2019 Revierderby was broadcast on Das Erste, and two additional games during the 2019–20 season were broadcast on ZDF.[63][64]

Day Time (CET) Broadcaster
Friday 20:30 DAZN
Sat.1 (1st, 17th, and 18th matchdays)
(1 match)
Saturday 15:30 Sky Sport Bundesliga (5 matches)
(4 matches in case of a third game on sunday)
18:30 Sky Sport Bundesliga (1 match)
Sunday 15:30 DAZN (1 match)
17:30
19:30 DAZN (1 match on 5 matchdays)

Radio coverage includes the national Konferenz (whip-around coverage) on the stations of ARD and full match coverage on local radio stations.

Global

[edit]
The Bundesliga is broadcast on TV in over 200 countries.

The Bundesliga is broadcast on TV in over 200 countries. ESPN has held rights in the United States since the beginning of the 2020–21 season. 4 matches per season are reserved for linear television with the rest appearing on ESPN+.[65][66] In Canada, the Bundesliga is broadcast live on DAZN.[67]

In the United Kingdom and in Ireland, the Bundesliga is broadcast live on Sky Sports.[68] In Spain, the Bundesliga is broadcast live on Movistar+.[69]

In Indonesia, Bundesliga is aired on Vision+, RCTI, and even iNews in the 2024–25 season only[a] while it was currently unavailable on beIN Sports Asia in the country since the previous season.[70]

Taiwan's ELTA TV are expecting to aired Bundesliga for the 2024–25 season, marked the first time Bundesliga returned to Taiwanese television since the 2020–21 season.[71]

In 2015, digital TV operator StarTimes acquired exclusive television rights for Sub-Saharan Africa for five years starting from 2015 to 2016 season.[72]

Champions

[edit]

In total, 13 clubs have won the bundesliga, not including the former German championship titles won before the Bundesliga's inception and those in the East German Oberliga. The record champions are Bayern Munich with 32 titles.[73]

List of champions

[edit]
Season Champions[74]
1963–64 1. FC Köln
1964–65 Werder Bremen
1965–66 1860 Munich
1966–67 Eintracht Braunschweig
1967–68 1. FC Nürnberg
1968–69 Bayern Munich
1969–70 Borussia Mönchengladbach
1970–71
1971–72 Bayern Munich
1972–73
1973–74
1974–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach
1975–76
1976–77
1977–78 1. FC Köln
1978–79 Hamburger SV
1979–80 Bayern Munich
1980–81
1981–82 Hamburger SV
1982–83
1983–84 VfB Stuttgart
1984–85 Bayern Munich
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88 Werder Bremen
1988–89 Bayern Munich
1989–90
1990–91 1. FC Kaiserslautern
1991–92 VfB Stuttgart
1992–93 Werder Bremen
1993–94 Bayern Munich
1994–95 Borussia Dortmund
1995–96
1996–97 Bayern Munich
1997–98 1. FC Kaiserslautern
1998–99 Bayern Munich
1999–2000
2000–01
2001–02 Borussia Dortmund
2002–03 Bayern Munich
2003–04 Werder Bremen
2004–05 Bayern Munich
2005–06
2006–07 VfB Stuttgart
2007–08 Bayern Munich
2008–09 VfL Wolfsburg
2009–10 Bayern Munich
2010–11 Borussia Dortmund
2011–12
2012–13 Bayern Munich
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24 Bayer Leverkusen

Performance by club

[edit]

Clubs in bold currently play in the top division. The German championship winners and DDR-Oberliga winners are not included in table below.

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Bayern Munich 32 10 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 1969–70, 1970–71, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2011–12
Borussia Dortmund 5 9 1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02, 2010–11, 2011–12 1965–66, 1991–92, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
Borussia Mönchengladbach 5 2 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 1973–74, 1977–78
Werder Bremen 4 7 1964–65, 1987–88, 1992–93, 2003–04 1967–68, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1994–95, 2005–06, 2007–08
Hamburger SV 3 5 1978–79, 1981–82, 1982–83 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1986–87
VfB Stuttgart 3 3 1983–84, 1991–92, 2006–07 1978–79, 2002–03, 2023–24
1. FC Köln 2 5 1963–64, 1977–78 1964–65, 1972–73, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1989–90
1. FC Kaiserslautern 2 1 1990–91, 1997–98 1993–94
Bayer Leverkusen 1 5 2023–24 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2010–11
1860 Munich 1 1 1965–66 1966–67
VfL Wolfsburg 1 1 2008–09 2014–15
Eintracht Braunschweig 1 1966–67
1. FC Nürnberg 1 1967–68
Schalke 04 7 1971–72, 1976–77, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2017–18
RB Leipzig 2 2016–17, 2020–21
MSV Duisburg 1 1963–64
Alemannia Aachen 1 1968–69
Hertha BSC 1 1974–75

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[75] to recognize sides that have won three or more championships since 1963 by the display of gold stars on their team badges and jerseys. Each country's usage is unique, with the following rules applying in Germany:[76]

  • 3 Bundesliga titles: 1 star
  • 5 Bundesliga titles: 2 stars
  • 10 Bundesliga titles: 3 stars
  • 20 Bundesliga titles: 4 stars
  • 30 Bundesliga titles: 5 stars

The former East German side BFC Dynamo laid claim to the three stars of a 10-time champion. The club asked for equal rights and petitioned the DFL and the DFB to have their DDR-Oberliga titles recognized. BFC Dynamo received support from SG Dynamo Dresden and 1. FC Magdeburg in its attempts to achieve recognition for East German titles.[77] The DFL eventually answered that it was not the responsible body and pointed to the DFB, but the DFB remained silent for long time. BFC Dynamo eventually took matters into their own hands and emblazoned its jerseys with three stars, while a decision was still pending.[78] This caused some debate because the club had been the favorite club of Erich Mielke during the East German era. There were rumours that the ten titles won by the club were also due to alleged manipulation of the game by Erich Mielke, while there is no proof that referees stood under direct instructions from the Stasi and no document has ever been found in the archives that gave the Stasi a mandate to bribe referees.[79][80][81] Critics in the DFB environment pointed to politically influenced championships in East Germany.[82] BFC Dynamo had been supported by the Stasi and had been advantaged.[82] The club had enjoyed privileged access to talents and access to a permanent training camp at Uckley in Königs Wusterhausen. However, also other clubs in East Germany had enjoyed similar advantages, which put the DFB in a difficult situation.[82] Additionally, former East German referee and CDU parliamentarian Bernd Heynemann spoke out for recognition of all East German titles.[79] The issue of recognition for titles outside the Bundesliga also affected pre-Bundesliga champions, such as Hertha BSC. The DFB finally decided in November 2005 to allow 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.[83]

The DFB format only applies to teams playing below the Bundesliga (below the top two divisions), since the DFL conventions apply in the Bundesliga. Greuther Fürth unofficially display three (silver) stars for pre-war titles in spite of being in the Bundesliga. These stars are a permanent part of their crest. However, Fürth has to leave the stars out of their jersey.

Since June 2010, the following clubs have been 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.[84] To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga, a special logo was developed for the 2012–13 season, featuring a "50" and "1963–2013".[85] 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.[86]

Influence and criticism

[edit]

The Dutch football schools, which existed and developed the Netherlands into one of Europe and the world's major football forces, have been strongly influenced and galvanised with German football philosophy, in particular by experiences of Dutch players and managers in Bundesliga.[87] Former England international Owen Hargreaves hailed the Bundesliga alongside Pep Guardiola for its positive impact on nurturing young talents, noting that the Bundesliga is the best league in the world to promote young footballers.[88] Many young English talents have sought refuge in Germany in order to regain fitness and football skills.[89] Outside Europe, the J.League of Japan, which was founded in 1992, was strongly influenced by the philosophy of the Bundesliga. Since then, the J.League has managed to establish itself as one of the best football leagues in Asia, in which it shares a beneficial relationship with its German exemplar.[90]

The Bundesliga has earned praise for its reputation on good financial management and the physical fitness of players.[91]

The Bundesliga outperformed the English Premier League in 2017 in online influence in China, having been accredited for its open embrace of live-streaming and fast-forward visions.[92]

The Bundesliga has at times been criticised for a perceived lack of competitiveness due to the continued dominance of FC Bayern Munich. The club has won a record 32 titles (of 59 available) in the modern Bundesliga era since 1963; a greater level of success than that of all their rivals combined. Indeed, the Bavarian club won 11 consecutive titles between the 2012–13 season and the 2022–23 season.[93] Former Germany international Stefan Effenberg has suggested that the league be restructured in order to end Bayern's dominance.[94]

Records

[edit]

Appearances

[edit]
As of 1 June 2024[95]
Charly Körbel
Top ten players with most appearances
Rank Player Apps Years Club(s)
1 Germany Charly Körbel 602 1972–1991 Eintracht Frankfurt 602
2 Germany Manfred Kaltz 581 1971–1991 Hamburger SV 581
3 Germany Oliver Kahn 557 1987–2008 Karlsruher SC 128, Bayern Munich 429
4 Germany Klaus Fichtel 552 1965–1988 Schalke 04 477, Werder Bremen 75
5 Germany Miroslav Votava 546 1976–1996 Borussia Dortmund 189, Werder Bremen 357
6 Germany Klaus Fischer 535 1968–1988 1860 Munich 60, Schalke 04 295, 1. FC Köln 96, VfL Bochum 84
7 Germany Eike Immel 534 1978–1995 Borussia Dortmund 247, VfB Stuttgart 287
8 Germany Willi Neuberger 520 1966–1983 Borussia Dortmund 148, Werder Bremen 63, Wuppertaler SV 42, Eintracht Frankfurt 267
9 Germany Michael Lameck 518 1972–1988 VfL Bochum 518
10 Germany Uli Stein 512 1978–1997 Arminia Bielefeld 60, Hamburger SV 228, Eintracht Frankfurt 224

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 14 May 2022[96]
Gerd Müller
Top ten goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Apps Ratio Years Club(s)
1 Germany Gerd Müller 365 427 0.85 1965–1979 Bayern 365/427
2 Poland Robert Lewandowski 312 384 0.82 2010–2022 Dortmund 74/131, Bayern 238/253
3 Germany Klaus Fischer 268 535 0.50 1968–1988 1860 Munich 28/60, Schalke 182/295, Köln 31/96, Bochum 27/84
4 Germany Jupp Heynckes 220 369 0.60 1965–1978 M’gladbach 195/283, Hannover 25/86
5 Germany Manfred Burgsmüller 213 447 0.48 1969–1990 Essen 32/74, Dortmund 135/224, Nürnberg 12/34, Bremen 34/115
6 Peru Claudio Pizarro 197 490 0.40 1999–2020 Bremen 109/250, Bayern 87/224, Köln 1/16
7 Germany Ulf Kirsten 181 350 0.52 1990–2003 Leverkusen 181/350
8 Germany Stefan Kuntz 179 449 0.40 1983–1999 Bochum 47/120, Uerdingen 32/94, K'lautern 75/170, Bielefeld 25/65
9 Germany Dieter Müller 177 303 0.58 1973–1986 Offenbach 0/2, Köln 159/248, Stuttgart 14/30, Saarbrücken 4/23
Germany Klaus Allofs 177 424 0.42 1975–1993 Düsseldorf 71/169, Köln 88/177, Bremen 18/78

Boldface indicates a player still active in the Bundesliga.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ replacing ANTV, tvOne and Mola that expired two seasons ago[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Herzlich willkommen in der Bundesliga, Holstein Kiel!". bundesliga.com (in German). 12 May 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Country coefficients | UEFA Coefficients". UEFA.com. July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Bundesliga 2024/24 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2023–24 . Retrieved 23 October 2024
  4. ^ giansla (20 October 2021). "The Bundesliga Officially Lands on Sorare". WeSorare. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. ^ "TV BROADCASTERS WORLDWIDE". Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. ^ "History :: Bundesliga :: Leagues :: DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V." dfb.de. Archived from the original on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Holtbys Siegtreffer kann den Abstieg nicht verhindern". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  8. ^ Fahey, Ciaran (12 May 2018). "Hamburger SV relegated from Bundesliga for first time amid chaotic scenes". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  9. ^ German National Television
  10. ^ "Bundesliga kick-off times to change from the 2021/22 season". Bulinews. 3 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  11. ^ "How everything got started". bundesliga.de. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007.
  12. ^ "Russia's Gazprom - Corrupt politicians and the greed of the west". DW Documentary. YouTube. 10 February 2024.
  13. ^ "WWK Arena". fcaugsburg.de (in German). FC Augsburg. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Our home since 1920". fc-union-berlin.de. 1. FC Union Berlin. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Vonovia Ruhrstadion". vfl-bochum.de (in German). VfL Bochum. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Das Weserstadion". werder.de (in German). SV Werder Bremen. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Signal Iduna Park". bvb.de (in German). Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Der Deutsche Bank Park – Daten und Fakten". deutschebankpark.de (in German). Deutsche Bank Park. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Europa-Park Stadion". scfreiburg.com (in German). SC Freiburg. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Voith Arena – Daten und Fakten". voith-arena.de (in German). Voith Arena. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  21. ^ "The PreZero Arena in numbers". tsg-hoffenheim.de. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Holstein-Stadion – Zahlen, Daten, Fakten". holstein-kiel.de (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Red Bull Arena in Leipzig: All the facts and stats". rbleipzig.com. RasenBallsport Leipzig. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  24. ^ "BayArena". bayer04.de. Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Mewa Arena". mainz05.de (in German). 1. FSV Mainz 05. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Borussia-Park". borussia.de (in German). Borussia Mönchengladbach. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Facts, figures & information about the Allianz Arena". allianz-arena.com. FC Bayern Munich. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Millerntor-Stadion". fcstpauli.com (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Extensive refurbishment work completed: MHP Arena Stuttgart shines in new splendor" (PDF). mhp.com. MHP Management- und IT-Beratung. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Wolfsburg präsentiert "echte" Stadionkapazität und neue Kampagne" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d Jackson, Jamie (11 April 2010). "How the Bundesliga puts the Premier League to shame". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  32. ^ a b c Evans, Stephen (23 May 2013). "German football model is a league apart". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  33. ^ a b c d Weil, Jonathan (23 May 2013). "At Last, Germany Secures Total Dominance of Europe". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  34. ^ a b c d Weil, Jonathan (22 May 2013). "Has German Soccer Conquered Europe? Not Quite". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  35. ^ Hesse, Uli (30 December 2014). "Issues looming for Germany's footballing landscape". ESPN. Archived from the original on 6 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  36. ^ Lowe, Sid (4 May 2013). "Barcelona and Real Madrid are symbolic of Spain's pain". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  37. ^ Bennett, John (23 January 2014). "Are brilliant Bayern Munich making the Bundesliga boring?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  38. ^ "Bayern Munich: Bundesliga champions in numbers". BBC Sport. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  39. ^ "The Bundesliga licensing process". Bundesliga. 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  40. ^ a b The Daily Telegraph, 17 November 2004
  41. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.fcbayern.telekom.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "Schalke unveil 2009 financials: debt repayment and firm footballing foundations go hand in hand". Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  43. ^ "Watch" (PDF). FutbolYou-Bundesliga (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  44. ^ "2011–12 World Football Attendances – Best Drawing Leagues (Chart of Top-20-drawing national leagues of association football) / Plus list of 35-highest drawing association football clubs in the world in 2011–12". Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  45. ^ Bundesliga 2011/2012 » Zuschauer Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2011–12. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  46. ^ Bundesliga 2012/2013 » Zuschauer Archived 15 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2012–13. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  47. ^ Bundesliga 2013/2014 » Zuschauer Archived 24 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2013–14. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  48. ^ Bundesliga 2014/2015 » Zuschauer Archived 31 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2014–15. Retrieved 2 June 2015
  49. ^ Bundesliga 2015/2016 » Zuschauer Archived 15 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2015–16. Retrieved 14 May 2016
  50. ^ Bundesliga 2016/2017 » Zuschauer Archived 28 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2016–17. Retrieved 20 May 2017
  51. ^ Bundesliga 2017/2018 » Zuschauer Archived 14 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2017–18. Retrieved 13 May 2018
  52. ^ Bundesliga 2018/2019 » Zuschauer Archived 16 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2018–19. Retrieved 18 May 2019
  53. ^ Bundesliga 2019/2020 » Zuschauer Archived 28 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2019–20. Retrieved 27 June 2020
  54. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, several matches were played behind closed doors.
  55. ^ Bundesliga 2020/2021 » Zuschauer Archived 14 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2020–21. Retrieved 22 May 2021
  56. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, the majority of matches were played behind closed doors.
  57. ^ Bundesliga 2021/2022 » Zuschauer Archived 6 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2021–22. Retrieved 14 May 2022
  58. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, some matches were played behind closed doors.
  59. ^ Bundesliga 2022/2023 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2022–23. Retrieved 27 May 2023
  60. ^ Bundesliga 2024/2024 » Zuschauer (in German) weltfussball.de, Spectator figures 2023–24. Retrieved 18 May 2024
  61. ^ "The core functions of the DFL". Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  62. ^ "DAZN sublicenses Bundesliga rights from Eurosport / Subscription price rises". Broadband TV News. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  63. ^ "Kooperation zwischen ARD und Sky: Kommt die Fußball-Bundesliga nun häufiger im Free-TV?". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  64. ^ "Free-TV zeigt zusätzliches Bayern-Spiel". n-tv.de (in German). Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  65. ^ "Exclusive Coverage of German Bundesliga Kicks Off on ESPN+, ESPN". ESPN Press Room U.S. (Press release). 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  66. ^ "ESPN+ to be the new home of the Bundesliga in the U.S. beginning August 2020". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  67. ^ "BUNDESLIGA INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH DAZN TO BRING BEST OF GERMAN FOOTBALL TO CANADA". DAZN. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  68. ^ "Bundesliga to be shown live on Sky Sports for next four seasons". Sky Sports. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  69. ^ "Movistar+ wins the rights again to broadcast the Bundesliga for another three seasons". Movistar+ Comunicacion. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  70. ^ Vision+ Sports [@visionplussport] (9 August 2024). "Pertarungan divisi teratas sepak bola negeri der panzer, coming soon on Vision+" (in Indonesian) – via Instagram.
  71. ^ "愛爾達宣佈轉播德甲 8月24日開始". GoGoal勁球網. 21 August 2024 – via Yahoo! Taiwan.
  72. ^ "StarTimes confirms Bundesliga deal". Sport Industry Group. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  73. ^ "Honours". FC Bayern Munich. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  74. ^ "Deutsche Meister der Männer" (in German). dfb.de. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  75. ^ "FIFA awards special 'Club World Champion' badge to AC Milan". FIFA. 7 February 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  76. ^ "Anhang IV zur LO: Richtlinie für Spielkleidung und Ausrüstung" [Annex IV to the Licensing Regulations: Guideline for Match Clothing and Equipment] (PDF). Deutsche Fußball Liga (in German). 5 March 2021. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021. Alt URL Archived 8 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  77. ^ Schulz, Jürgen (10 August 2004). "Verrückt? BFC will genauso viele Sterne wie die Bayern - DDR-Rekordmeister fordert Gleichbehandlung von DFL". B.Z. (in German). Berlin: B.Z. Ullstein GmbH. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  78. ^ Hönicke, Christian (26 March 2005). "Sternstunden im Sportforum". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Berlin: Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  79. ^ a b Kluempers, John (13 May 2005). "East Germany's Star Quality in Question". dw.com. Bonn: Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  80. ^ Mike, Dennis; Grix, Jonathan (2012). Sport under Communism – Behind the East German 'Miracle' (1st ed.). Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan (Macmillan Publishers Limited). p. 150 =978-0-230-22784-2.
  81. ^ MacDougall, Alan (2014). The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany (1st ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-1-107-05203-1.
  82. ^ a b c Schulz, Jürgen (11 October 2004). "BFC Dynamo startet Krieg der Sterne". Die Tageszeitung (in German). Berlin: taz Verlags u. Vertriebs GmbH. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  83. ^ "6 Durchführungsbestimmungen" [6 Implementing regulations] (PDF) (in German). p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2013.
  84. ^ "Bundesliga mit neuem Markenauftritt zur Saison 2010/2011" [Bundesliga with a new brand image for the 2010–11 season]. Bundesliga (in German). Deutsche Fußball Liga. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  85. ^ "DFL und adidas feiern 50 Jahre Bundesliga: Neues Logo und neuer Ball zum Jubiläum" [DFL and adidas celebrate 50 years of the Bundesliga: New logo and new ball for the anniversary]. Bundesliga (in German). Deutsche Fußball Liga. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  86. ^ "Bundesliga: New brand look from 2017/18 season". Bundesliga. Deutsche Fußball Liga. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  87. ^ "The Bundesliga's Dutch influence | Feature". bundesliga.com – the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  88. ^ McLeman, Neil (13 May 2020). "Hargreaves hails Guardiola's Bundesliga impact ahead of German football's return". mirror. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  89. ^ "Breaking the grass ceiling: why England's frustrated youngsters are heading to the Bundesliga". bundesliga.com – the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  90. ^ Bienkowski, Stefan. "German Bundesliga, Japanese Football Share Mutually Beneficial Relationship". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  91. ^ Rosar, Ulrich; Hagenah, Jörg; Klein, Marcus (2014). "Physical Attractiveness and monetary success in German Bundesliga". Soccer and Society. 18: 102–120. doi:10.1080/14660970.2014.980742. S2CID 144629464.
  92. ^ "Bundesliga beats EPL for online influence in China | Digital". Campaign Asia. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  93. ^ Nelson, Trent (18 June 2020). "Are Bayern Munich making the Bundesliga boring?". Goal.com.
  94. ^ France, Sam (10 July 2020). "Bundesliga should be restructured to end Bayern's dominance, says ex-Germany international Effenberg". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  95. ^ "Germany – All-Time Most Matches Played in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  96. ^ "(West) Germany – Top Scorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
[edit]