Bundesliga
German football league.
The Bundesliga is the top professional association football league in Germany and the highest level of the German football league system. Contested by 18 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga. Seasons typically run from August to May, with each team playing 34 matches: two against each other team, one home and one away.
The competition was founded in 1963, making it the first national league in German football history. Prior to its establishment, German football was played in regional leagues. The Bundesliga has since become one of the most popular and successful football leagues in the world, known for its high-quality play, passionate fan culture, and financial stability.
The Bundesliga is managed by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), with member clubs acting as shareholders. The league benefits from lucrative television rights deals, both domestically and internationally. In 2021, the DFL agreed to a four-year domestic broadcast deal worth €4.4 billion, while international rights continue to grow in value.
As one of Europe's "Big Five" leagues, the Bundesliga attracts significant global attention. It is broadcast in over 200 countries and territories, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. The league is renowned for its high attendance figures, with an average of around 40,000 spectators per match, often surpassing other top European leagues.
The Bundesliga has a unique promotion and relegation system. While the bottom two teams are automatically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, the team finishing 16th in the Bundesliga enters a two-legged playoff against the team finishing third in the 2. Bundesliga to determine which will play in the top flight the following season.
In terms of European success, Bundesliga clubs have won the UEFA Champions League / European Cup eight times. Bayern Munich leads with six titles, while Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg have one each. The league consistently performs well in UEFA competitions, maintaining a high coefficient ranking.
Since its inception, numerous clubs have competed in the Bundesliga, but Bayern Munich has been the dominant force, winning a record 32 titles. Other notable champions include Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen, Hamburg, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.