Fußball-Bundesliga

Fußball-Bundesliga
Countries Germany
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1963
Number of teams 18
Relegation to 2. Bundesliga
Level on pyramid Level 1
Domestic cup(s) DFB-Pokal
International cup(s) Champions League
UEFA Cup
Intertoto Cup
Current champions FC Bayern Munich (2007–08)
Website http://www.bundesliga.de
Soccerball current event.svg Fußball-Bundesliga 2008–09

The Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's football league system. The term Bundesliga also applies to football in Austria and is used to refer to the highest level league competitions in several other sports in those two countries.

Germany was unusual, in that, unlike in other countries, a unified national league structure was quite late in developing. The Bundesliga was not formed until 1963 and the structure and organisation of the nation's football leagues have undergone frequent changes right up to the present day. The league was originally founded by the German Football Association, but is now operated by the Deutsche Fußball Liga.

Contents

Overview

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 (Second Bundesliga), which has been the second tier of German football since 1974. The Bundesligen (pl.) are professional leagues. Since 2008, the 3rd League in Germany is also 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 2 Bundesligen, by the German Football League (DFL).

Below the level of the 3rd league, leagues are generally often subdivided on a regional basis. For example, the Regionalligen are currently made up of Nord (North), Süd (South) and West divisions, and the Oberligen (upper leagues) are composed of nine divisions representing 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 leagues of East and West Germany.

Every team in the 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:

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

Internationally, the most well-known German clubs include Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen. Hamburger SV can lay claim to being the only club that has played continuously in the Bundesliga since its foundation.

Effective from the 2008–09 season, the Bundesliga will reinstate the traditional German system of promotion and relegation:

For several years, 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.

The season starts in early August 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 (seven games beginning at 3:30 pm) and Sundays (two games beginning at 5:00 pm). A new television deal in 2006 reintroduced a Friday game (beginning at 8:30 pm) in place of one of the Saturday matches.

History

Origins

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 re-named 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.

Establishment

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) to the formation of a national league. Under new DFB president Hermann Gösmann (elected that very day) the Bundesliga was created in Dortmund on 28 July 1962 to begin play starting with the 1963–64 season.[1] The new German professional league was modelled on the long-established English league, which had been set up in 1888.

At the time, there were five Oberligen (Premier Leagues) in place representing West Germany's North, South, West, Southwest, and Berlin. East Germany, under Soviet occupation, maintained its separate league structure. Forty-six clubs applied for admission to the new league. Sixteen 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 45:19 points) over second place clubs Meidericher SV and Eintracht Frankfurt (both 39:25).

Qualifying system

The qualifying system for the new league was fairly complex. The league placings of the clubs playing in the Oberligas for the last ten seasons were taken into consideration, whereby results from 1952 to 1955 counted once, results from 1955 to 1959 counted double and results from 1959 to 1963 triple. A first place finish was awarded 16 points, a sixteenth place one point. Appearances in the German championship or DFB-Pokal finals were also rewarded with points. The five Oberliga champions of the 1962-63 season were granted direct access to the Bundesliga. All up, 46 clubs applied for the 16 available Bundesliga slots.

Following this system, by 11 January 1963, the DFB announced nine fixed clubs for the new league and reduced the clubs eligible for the remaining seven places to 20. Clubs within the same Oberliga that were separated by less than 50 points were considered on equal rank and the 1962-63 placing was used to determined the qualified team.[2]

The breakdown for the the five Oberligas was as follows:

Points table:

Rank Club Points 1952 to 1963 Place in 1962–63
1 Hamburger SV 1 518 1
2 Werder Bremen 1 396 2
3 VfL Osnabrück 2 313 7
4 Hannover 96 2 309 9
5 FC St Pauli 2 303 6
6 Holstein Kiel 2 294 5
7 Eintracht Braunschweig 2 276 3
8 Arminia Hannover 3 103 10

Points table:

Rank Club Points 1952 to 1963 Place in 1962–63
1 1. FC Köln 1 466 1
2 Borussia Dortmund 1 440 2
3 FC Schalke 04 1 396 6
4 Alemannia Aachen 2 285 5
5 Preußen Münster 2 251 4
6 Meidericher SV 2 250 3
7 Fortuna Düsseldorf 2 225 13
8 Westfalia Herne 2 222 14
9 Viktoria Köln 3 201 8
10 Schwarz-Weiß Essen 2 167 7
11 Rot-Weiß Oberhausen 2 154 10
12 Borussia Mönchengladbach 3 155 11
13 Hamborn 07 3 101 12
14 Bayer Leverkusen 3 88 9
15 Wuppertaler SV 4 52 15

Points table:

Rank Club Points 1952 to 1963 Place in 1962–63
1 Hertha BSC Berlin 1 346 1
2 Tasmania 1900 Berlin 3 324 2
3 Viktoria 89 Berlin 3 318 9

Points table:

Rank Club Points 1952 to 1963 Place in 1962–63
1 1. FC Nuremberg 1 447 2
2 Eintracht Frankfurt 1 420 4
3 Karlsruher SC 2 419 5
4 VfB Stuttgart 2 408 6
5 Kickers Offenbach 2 382 7
6 FC Bayern Munich 2 288 3
7 TSV 1860 Munich 2 229 1
8 VfR Mannheim 3 227 12
9 SpVgg Fürth 3 224 9
10 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 3 185 11
11 FC Bayern Hof 3 90 13
12 TSV Schwaben Augsburg 3 61 15
13 KSV Hessen Kassel 3 36 10

Points table:

Rank Club Points 1952 to 1963 Place in 1962–63
1 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2 464 1
2 1. FC Saarbrücken 1 384 5
3 FK Pirmasens 2 382 3
4 Borussia Neunkirchen 2 376 2
5 Wormatia Worms 3 278 4
6 Saar 05 Saarbrücken 3 229 9
7 Sportfreunde Saarbrücken 4 160 6

Structure and competition

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 a draw worth one point and a loss no points. Since the 1995–96 season, a victory has been worth three points, with no change in the value of a draw or loss. The club with the most points at the end of the season becomes the German champion. Currently, the top two clubs in the table qualify automatically for the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, while the third-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 2nd Bundesliga, while the top two teams in the 2nd Bundesliga are promoted. The sixteenth place team (third last), and the third place team in the 2nd 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 2nd Bundesliga.

If teams are level on points, tiebreakers 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 goal difference.
  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 tiebreakers 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

European qualification (as of 2008–09)

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

Current members of the Bundesliga (2008/2009 season)

For more details on the Bundesliga 2008-09 season, see here.

In the above list, Borussia Mönchengladbach, 1. FC Köln and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have just moved into the First Bundesliga, replacing 1. FC Nuremberg, FC Hansa Rostock and MSV Duisburg, who finished at the bottom three spots of the table at the end of the 2007/08 season and thus were relegated to the Second Bundesliga.

Verdiente Meistervereine

In 2004, the honor of “Verdiente Meistervereine” (roughly “distinguished champion clubs”) was introduced, following a custom first practised by the Italian club Juventus, to recognize sides that have won multiple championships or other honours by the display of gold stars on their team crests 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 ten titles, and four stars for twenty titles.

The former East German side Berliner FC Dynamo laid claim to the three stars of a ten-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.[9]

The DFB format only applies to teams playing below the Bundesliga (the top two divisions), since there the DFL conventions remain in force. 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.

As of May 2008 the following clubs are allowed to wear stars while playing in the Bundesliga. The number in parentheses is for Bundesliga titles won.

As of May 2008 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 included within the star.

  • Star full.svg 1. FC Magdeburg (3)
  • Star full.svg FC Erzgebirge Aue (3)
  • Star full.svg Lokomotive Leipzig (3)
  • Star full.svg FC Carl Zeiss Jena (3)
  • Star full.svg 1. FC Köln (3)
  • Star full.svg SpVgg Greuther Fürth (3)

Media coverage

Premiere holds the rights to broadcast both first and second division matches on a pay-per-view basis. Only two matches, the season opener and the opener after the winter-break, are broadcast on free television, on ARD. GOL TV has exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to broadcast the Bundesliga. In Australia the Bundesliga is broadcast by Setanta Sports Australia. In UK the Bundesliga is currently available on Setanta Sports. The rights to broadcast the Bundesliga are generally marketed by the DFL.

Champions

Main article: German football champions

In total, 43 clubs have won the German championship. FC Bayern Munich have 21 titles, more than any other club. The clubs with the next most titles are BFC Dynamo Berlin (10; all accomplished in the GDR Oberliga) and 1. FC Nuremberg (9).
The clubs with the most Bundesliga titles besides FC Bayern (20 titles) are Borussia Mönchengladbach (5) and Werder Bremen (4).

Season Bundesliga-Champion[10] Season Bundesliga-Champion Season Bundesliga-Champion Season Bundesliga-Champion
1963–64 1. FC Köln 1975–76 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1987–88 SV Werder Bremen 1999–00 FC Bayern Munich
1964–65 SV Werder Bremen 1976–77 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1988–89 FC Bayern Munich 2000–01 FC Bayern Munich
1965–66 TSV 1860 München 1977–78 1. FC Köln 1989–90 FC Bayern Munich 2001–02 Borussia Dortmund
1966–67 Eintracht Braunschweig 1978–79 Hamburger SV 1990–91 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2002–03 FC Bayern Munich
1967–68 1. FC Nuremberg 1979–80 FC Bayern Munich 1991–92 VfB Stuttgart 2003–04 SV Werder Bremen
1968–69 FC Bayern Munich 1980-81 FC Bayern Munich 1992–93 SV Werder Bremen 2004–05 FC Bayern Munich
1969–70 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1981–82 Hamburger SV 1993–94 FC Bayern Munich 2005–06 FC Bayern Munich
1970–71 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1982–83 Hamburger SV 1994–95 Borussia Dortmund 2006–07 VfB Stuttgart
1971–72 FC Bayern Munich 1983–84 VfB Stuttgart 1995–96 Borussia Dortmund 2007–08 FC Bayern Munich
1972–73 FC Bayern Munich 1984–85 FC Bayern Munich 1996–97 FC Bayern Munich
1973–74 FC Bayern Munich 1985–86 FC Bayern Munich 1997–98 1. FC Kaiserslautern
1974–75 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1986–87 FC Bayern Munich 1998–99 FC Bayern Munich

FC Bayern Munich are the current title-holders.

See also: Austrian football champions

Records

Charly Körbel
Top Ten Players With Most Appearances[11]
Player Period Club[12] Games
1 Karl-Heinz Körbel 1972–1991 Eintracht Frankfurt 602
2 Manfred Kaltz 1971–1991 Hamburger SV 581
3 Oliver Kahn 1987–2008 FC Bayern Munich 557
4 Klaus Fichtel 1965–1988 FC Schalke 04 552
5 Miroslav Votava 1976–1996 SV Werder Bremen 546
6 Klaus Fischer 1968–1988 FC Schalke 04 535
7 Eike Immel 1978–1995 VfB Stuttgart 534
8 Willi Neuberger 1966–1983 Eintracht Frankfurt 520
9 Michael Lameck 1972–1988 VfL Bochum 518
10 Uli Stein 1978–1997 Hamburger SV 512
Gerd Müller
Top Ten Highest Goalscorers[13]
Player Period Club[14] Goals
1 Gerd Müller 1965–1979 FC Bayern Munich 365 (Ø 0,85)
2 Klaus Fischer 1968–1988 FC Schalke 04 268 (Ø 0,50)
3 Jupp Heynckes 1965–1978 Borussia Mönchengladbach 220 (Ø 0,60)
4 Manfred Burgsmüller 1969–1990 Borussia Dortmund 213 (Ø 0,48)
5 Ulf Kirsten 1990–2003 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 181 (Ø 0,52)
6 Stefan Kuntz 1983–1999 1. FC Kaiserslautern 179 (Ø 0,40)
7 Dieter Müller 1973–1986 1. FC Köln 177 (Ø 0,58)
8 Klaus Allofs 1975–1993 1. FC Köln 177 (Ø 0,42)
9 Hannes Löhr 1964–1977 1. FC Köln 166 (Ø 0,44)
10 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1974–1984 FC Bayern Munich 162 (Ø 0,52)

Other records

See also

References

  1. ↑ "How everything got started". Bundesliga.de (16 August 2006). Retrieved on 4 November 2008.
  2. ↑ DSFS Ligachronik: Qualifikation zur Bundesliga 1963 (German), page: B 11 - 12, publisher: Deutscher Sportclub für Fussballstatistik - DSFS, accessed: 3 November 2008
  3. ↑ "Die Oberliga Nord 1962/63 - Abschlusstabelle" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved on 3 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Die Oberliga West 1962/63 - Abschlusstabelle" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved on 3 November 2008.
  5. ↑ "Die Oberliga Süd 1962/63 - Abschlusstabelle" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved on 3 November 2008.
  6. ↑ "German Soccer Personalities". Abseits guide to German soccer. Retrieved on 4 November 2008.
  7. ↑ "History of the FSV Frankfurt - 1963" (in German).
  8. ↑ "Die Oberliga Südwest 1962/63 - Abschlusstabelle" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved on 3 November 2008.
  9. ↑ "DFB clothing instructions, page 54" (in German).
  10. ↑ http://www.dfb.de/bliga/bundes/meister/index.html
  11. ↑ "Germany - All-Time Most Matches Played in Bundesliga".
  12. ↑ where player played the most games.
  13. ↑ "(West) Germany - Top Scorers".
  14. ↑ where player shot the most goals

External links

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TSG 1899 Hoffenheim · Arminia Bielefeld · Bayer Leverkusen · Bayern Munich · VfL Bochum · Borussia Dortmund · Borussia Mönchengladbach · Eintracht Frankfurt · FC Energie Cottbus · Hamburger SV · Hannover 96 · Hertha BSC Berlin · Karlsruher SC · 1. FC Köln · FC Schalke 04 · VfB Stuttgart · Werder Bremen · VfL Wolfsburg
1. Bundesliga seasons

1960–61 · 1961–62 · 1962–63 | 1963–64 · 1964–65 · 1965–66 · 1966–67 · 1967–68 · 1968–69 · 1969–70
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