Bundesliga/import

The Fußball-Bundesliga, commonly known as the Bundesliga, is a professional association football league in Germany and the most visited football league 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 during weekdays. All of the Bundesliga clubs qualify for the DFB-Pokal. The winner of the Bundesliga qualifies for the DFL-Supercup.

A total of 52 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga since its founding. FC Bayern Munich has won the Bundesliga the most, winning the title 22 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 3rd in Europe according to UEFA's league coefficient ranking, based on recent European performances. 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. The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries.

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 originally founded by the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (English: German Football Association), but is now operated by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (English: German Football League).

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 (plural) are professional leagues. Since 2008, the 3. Liga (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 two Bundesligen, by the German Football League (Deutsche Fußball-Liga or 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), 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.

Internationally, the most well-known German clubs include Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart. Hamburger SV is the only team 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 already 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 place.
 * The third-from-bottom club in the Bundesliga will play a two-legged match 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 respectively 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 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).

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 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.

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) 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.

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.
 * From Oberliga Nord: Eintracht Braunschweig, Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV
 * From Oberliga West: Borussia Dortmund, 1. FC Köln, Meidericher SV (now MSV Duisburg), Preußen Münster, Schalke 04
 * From Oberliga Südwest: 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 1. FC Saarbrücken
 * From Oberliga Süd: Eintracht Frankfurt, Karlsruher SC, 1. FC Nürnberg, TSV 1860 München, VfB Stuttgart
 * From Oberliga Berlin: Hertha BSC

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).

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 one point for a draw and none for a loss. 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 German champions. 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 2nd Bundesliga, while the top two teams in the 2nd Bundesliga are promoted. The 16th-placed team (third-last), and the third-placed 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, 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

 * 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

European qualification (as of 2011–12)

 * 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.
 * DFB-Pokal (German Cup) winner: Qualifies for group phase of UEFA Europa League regardless of league position.
 * If the Cup winner qualifies for the Champions League, the cup winner's place in the Europa League goes to the defeated cup finalist if it is not already qualified for European competition, although the defeated cup finalist will 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.
 * The team that benefits from this rule does not necessarily have to be a Bundesliga member. For example, although 2. Bundesliga sides Alemannia Aachen lost to Werder Bremen in the 2004 DFB-Pokal Final, Alemannia secured an entry in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, because Werder qualified for the Champions League as First Bundesliga champions.
 * Also, if both cup finalists qualify for the Champions League, the Europa League berth reserved for the DFB-Pokal winners is transferred to the highest finisher below the Champions League qualification places, with the two teams immediately below assuming the regular Europa League spots. This most recently happened in 2012, when the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final pitted champions Borussia Dortmund against second-placed Bayern Munich. As a result, seventh-placed Hannover 96, which would otherwise not have qualified for a European competition, received a berth in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.
 * 5th place: Play-off round of Europa League
 * 6th place: Third qualifying round of Europa League
 * An additional place in the Europa League may 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.

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 to 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.

Verdiente Meistervereine
In 2004, the honor of "Verdiente Meistervereine" (roughly “distinguished champion clubs”) was introduced, following a custom first practised by the Italian Football Federation, 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.

The DFB format only applies to teams playing below the Bundesliga (below 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. These stars are a permanent part of their crest. However, Fürth has to leave the stars out on their jersey.

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 June 2010, 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.

Business model
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. While the English Premier League enjoys higher revenue growth thanks to a larger global fanbase (most Bundesliga clubs are not well known outside Germany) and skyrocketing television income (as the English have a less competitive pay-TV market), clubs spend a much greater percentage of revenue than their Bundesliga counterparts on player salaries. 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%.

Bundesliga clubs are required to be majority-owned by German club members (known as the 50+1 rule 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 Arab sheiks, and a larger number of clubs have high levels of debt.

As a result of a limited talent pool, which caused the German national team to fare poorly at Euro 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. By contrast, the English Premiership has lately been dominated by foreigners which strains the talent pool for the national team, and La Liga clubs have paid the record-breaking transfer fees to bring in foreign stars.

In the last ten years, 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, though recently Liverpool has dropped off while the big-spending Manchester City has emerged as a contender) finish in the top four for a number of years.

Financial regulations
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. 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 and Bayer Leverkusen which were originally founded as factory teams.

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). Daily Telegraph 17 November 2004 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.

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

Attendances
The Bundesliga is the number one football league in the world in terms of average attendance; out of all sports, its average of 45,116 fans per game during the 2011–12 season was the second highest of any sports league in the world. Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund has the highest average attendance of any football club in the world.

Out of Europe's five major football leagues (Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1), 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". Uli Hoeneß, the 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. That's the biggest difference between us and England."


 * 2012–13: 42,421
 * 2011–12: 45,116
 * 2010–11: 42,673
 * 2009–10: 41,802
 * 2008–09: 42,565
 * 2007–08: 39,444
 * 2006–07: 39,957
 * 2005–06: 40,779
 * 2004–05: 37,813
 * 2003–04: 37,395
 * 2002–03: 34,144
 * 2001–02: 33,049
 * 2000–01: 30,922
 * 1993–94: 27,183
 * 1983–84: 20,723
 * 1973–74: 22,203
 * 1963–64: 27,568

Media coverage
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. The Bundesliga is broadcast on TV in over 200 countries.

Domestically, Sky holds the rights to broadcast all first and second division matches on a pay television basis. Deutsche Telekom holds the IPTV rights. Only four matches – the season opener, the first match after the winter break, and both legs of the relegation playoff – are broadcast on free television, on ARD. Since August 2008 90elf holds the rights to broadcast all first and second division matches online and via Digital Audio Broadcasting.

The current international Bundesliga TV rights run until 2015.

In North America, GOL TV has exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to broadcast the Bundesliga. In Mexico, the Bundesliga is on ESPN. Starting in 2015, the Bundesliga TV rights will be owned by FOX in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

In England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, the Bundesliga is broadcast on BT Sport.

In Australia the Bundesliga is broadcast by Setanta Sports. Sport Klub has the rights to broadcast in Serbia. In Greece, most Bundesliga matches are broadcast on OTE's cable TV platform, Conn-x TV Sports. SportTV broadcast one live game per week for Portugal. In Spain the Bundesliga is broadcast by Digital+, In Italy the Bundesliga is broadcast by Sky Sport.

In Australia six exclusive games per week from the Bundesliga are broadcast on Setanta Sports.

The Bundesliga is on ESPN in Latin America, and on ESPN Brasi in Brazil.

In India, up to three matches a week are shown on Neo Sports, generally two live and one delayed.

In Japan, the Bundesliga is on Fuji TV, NHK, and FOX.

In China, CCTV5 have exclusive matches every week. In Hong Kong, the Bundesliga is on i-Cable. In 2015, FOX will have the English language rights to the Bundesliga in China.

In Philippines, AKTV on IBC and Hyper have exclusive games every week.

In Vietnam, Thể thao TV and K plus have exclusive matches every week.

In Indonesia, Kompas TV have 2 games per week and opening match. In 2015, FOX will have the TV rights to the Bundesliga in Indonesia.

In Afghanistan, Tolo TV and Lemar TV will have full coverage of the league and its games starting in February 2013.

In New Zealand, Sommet Sports have secured full broadcasting rights to the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons of the Bundesliga.

In Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen; Dubai Sports has the full rights of broadcast.

Champions
In total, 43 clubs have won the German championship, this includes titles won before the Bundesliga's inception and those in the East German Oberliga. The record champions are FC Bayern Munich with 23 titles, ahead of BFC Dynamo Berlin with 10 (all in East Germany) and 1. FC Nürnberg with 9.

The following clubs have won the Bundesliga: FC Bayern Munich (22 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.

FC Bayern Munich are the current title holders.

Player and manager records

 * Youngest player to play: 🇹🇷 Nuri Şahin for Borussia Dortmund (16 years and 335 days)
 * Youngest player to score: 🇹🇷 Nuri Şahin for Borussia Dortmund (17 years and 82 days)
 * Oldest player: 🇩🇪 Klaus Fichtel for FC Schalke 04 (43 years old)
 * Most own goals scored: 6 by 🇩🇪 Manfred Kaltz and 🇲🇰 Nikolče Noveski
 * Most red cards received: 8 by 🇩🇪 Jens Nowotny
 * Shortest timespan before receiving a red card: 43 seconds (after being substituted onto the pitch) by 🇩🇪 Marcel Titsch-Rivero of Eintracht Frankfurt (matchday 34 of 2010-2011)
 * Shortest timespan before receiving a red card, following the second booking: 12 minutes (into the game) by 🇸🇳 Mame Biram Diouf of Hannover 96 (matchday 10 of 2013-2014)
 * Most goals scored by a foreign player: 167 by 🇵🇪 Claudio Pizarro (as of 23 September 2013)
 * Most goals scored by a player by penalties: 53 by 🇩🇪 Manfred Kaltz (plus 7 missed penalties)
 * Most goals conceded by a goalkeeper: 829 by 🇩🇪 Eike Immel (in 534 games)
 * Most clean sheets by a goalkeeper: 196 by 🇩🇪 Oliver Kahn (in 557 games)
 * Most championships won as a player: 8 by 🇩🇪 Mehmet Scholl and 🇩🇪 Oliver Kahn (all with Bayern Munich)
 * Most championships won as a coach: 8 by 🇩🇪 Udo Lattek (6 with Bayern Munich and 2 with Borussia Mönchengladbach)
 * Youngest coach to win a championship: 🇩🇪 Matthias Sammer with Borussia Dortmund (2001–02) (34 years old)
 * Oldest coach to win a championship: 🇩🇪 Jupp Heynckes with Bayern Munich (2012–13) (67 years old, the moment they clinched the title)
 * Fastest goal: 🇩🇪 Ulf Kirsten (Bayer Leverkusen) after 11 seconds (against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2002)
 * Longest period of time as coach for one club: 🇩🇪 Volker Finke by over 16 years for SC Freiburg
 * Most consecutive games scoring in: 16 by 🇩🇪 Gerd Müller for Bayern Munich (22 goals from matchday 6 to 25 of 1969–70)
 * Most consecutive games scoring in with a new club: 6 by 🇪🇬 Mohamed Zidan for Mainz 05 (6 goals from matchday 20 to 25 of 2011–12)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten as a player: 42 by 🇫🇷 Franck Ribéry for Bayern Munich (matchday 32 of 2011–12 to matchday 15 of 2013–14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games won as a player from debut in the Bundesliga: 10 by 🇭🇷 Robert Kovač for Bayer Leverkusen (1996-97) and 🇬🇭 Isaac Vorsah for Hoffenheim (2008–09)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten as a coach: 36 by 🇦🇹 Ernst Happel for Hamburger SV (matchday 17 of 1981–82 to matchday 18 of 1982–83)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten as a coach from debut in the Bundesliga: 15 by 🇪🇸 Pep Guardiola with Bayern Munich (matchday 1 to 15 of 2013-14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten as a coach from debut at a new club: 24 by 🇩🇪 Jupp Heynckes with Bayer Leverkusen (matchday 1 to 24 of 2009-10)

Titles

 * Most titles won: 22 by Bayern Munich (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, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive titles: 3 by Bayern Munich (three times) (1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74; 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87; 1998–99, 1999–00 and 2000–01) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77)

Points

 * Most points in a season: 91 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest points in a season: 10 by Tasmania Berlin (8:60) (1965–66)
 * Most points in a season opening half: 44 by Bayern Munich (2005–06)
 * Fewest points in a season opening half: 4 by Tasmania Berlin (3:31) (1965–66)
 * Most points in a season closing half: 49 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest points in a season closing half: 6 by Tasmania Berlin (5:27) (1965–66) and FC St. Pauli (1996–97)
 * Most points in a season away: 47 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest points in a season away: 0 by 1. FC Nürnberg (1983–84)
 * Most points in a season at home: 49 by FC Schalke 04 (33:1) (1971–72), Bayern Munich (33:1) (1972–73) and VfL Wolfsburg (2008–09)
 * Fewest points in a season at home: 4 by Greuther Fürth (2012–13)
 * Biggest margin of points between champion and runner-up: 25 between Bayern Munich (91) and Borussia Dortmund (66) (2012–13)
 * Most points in a calendar year: 90 by Bayern Munich (2013) (ongoing)

Wins and losses

 * Most wins in a season: 29 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most wins in a season away: 15 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most wins in a season at home: 16 by FC Schalke 04 (1971–72), Bayern Munich (1972–73) and VfL Wolfsburg (2008–09)
 * Most wins in a season opening half: 14 by Bayern Munich (2005–06)
 * Most wins in a season closing half: 16 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest wins in a season: 2 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66) and Wuppertaler SV (1974–75)
 * Fewest wins in a season at home: 0 by Greuther Fürth (2012–13)
 * Fewest wins in a season away: 0 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66), Karlsruher SC (1965–66, 1967–68 and 1976–77), Borussia Neunkirchen (1967–68), Borussia Dortmund (1967–68 and 1978–79), Hannover 96 (1969–70 and 1971–72), Alemannia Aachen (1969–70), Arminia Bielefeld (1971–72), Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (1972–73), Hertha BSC Berlin (1972–73 and 1982–83) Wuppertaler SV (1974–75), VfB Stuttgart (1974–75 and 2000–01), VfL Bochum (1975–76), Tennis Borussia Berlin (1976–77), Rot-Weiß Essen (1976–77), Bayern Munich (1977–78), Eintracht Braunschweig (1979–80), Bayer 05 Uerdingen (1980–81), Fortuna Düsseldorf (1981–82), MSV Duisburg (1981–82), 1. FC Nürnberg (1983–84), Kickers Offenbach (1983–84), Eintracht Frankfurt (1986–87 and 1995–96), FC 08 Homburg (1986–87), SV Waldhof Mannheim (1986–87), FC St. Pauli (1988–89 and 2001–02), Dynamo Dresden (1992–93), SG Wattenscheid 09 (1993–94), Borussia Mönchengladbach (1998–99 and 2004–05), 1. FC Köln (2003–04) and SC Freiburg (2003–04)
 * Fewest losses in a season: 1 by Bayern Munich (1986–87 and 2012–13)
 * Fewest losses in a season away: 0 by Bayern Munich (1986–87 and 2012–13)
 * Fewest losses in a season at home (30 games): 0 by Hamburger SV (1963–64) and Werder Bremen (1964–65)
 * Fewest losses in a season at home (34 games): 0 by 1860 München (1965–66), Bayern Munich (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2001–02 and 2007–08), MSV Duisburg (1970–71), FC Schalke 04 (1970–71), Eintracht Frankfurt (1971–72 and 1973–74), 1. FC Köln (1972–73 and 1987–88), Hertha BSC Berlin (1974–75 and 1977–78), Eintracht Braunschweig (1975–76), Hambuger SV (1981–82, 1982–83 and 1995–96), 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1981–82 and 1994–95), Werder Bremen (1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1992–93), Borussia Mönchengladbach (1983–84), Karlsruher SC (1992–93), Bayer Leverkusen (1999–2000), VfL Wolfsburg (2008–09), Borussia Dortmund (2008–09) and Hannover 96 (2011–12)
 * Fewest losses in a season at home (38 games): 0 by 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1991–92) and Borussia Dortmund (1991–92)
 * Most losses in a season: 28 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Most losses in a season at home: 13 by Greuther Fürth (2012–13)
 * Most losses in a season away: 17 by 1. FC Nürnberg (1983–84)

Goals

 * Most goals scored in a season: 101 by Bayern Munich (1971–72)
 * Fewest goals scored in a season: 15 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season: 18 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most goals conceded in a season: 108 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Most goals scored in a season away: 43 by Werder Bremen (2006–07)
 * Fewest goals scored in a season away: 7 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Most goals scored in a season at home: 69 by Bayern Munich (1971–72)
 * Most goals scored in a season opening half: 50 by Hamburger SV (1981–82)
 * Most goals scored in a season closing half: 54 by Bayern Munich (1971–72 and 2012–13)
 * Fewest goals scored in a season at home: 8 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season at home: 5 by Werder Bremen (1992–93)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season away: 7 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season opening half: 7 by VfB Stuttgart (2003–04) and Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season closing half: 11 by Bayern Munich (1986–87, 2002–03 and 2012–13)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season opening half away: 1 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season closing half away: 6 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season opening half at home: 3 by VfL Bochum (2003–04)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season closing half at home: 1 by Werder Bremen (1992–93)
 * Most goals conceded in a season away: 70 by Kickers Offenbach (1983–84)
 * Most goals conceded in a season at home: 46 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Best goal difference in a season: +80 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Best goal difference in a season at home: +49 by Bayern Munich (1972–73)
 * Best goal difference in a season away: +35 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Best goal difference in a season opening half: +37 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Best goal difference in a season closing half: +43 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Worst goal difference in a season: −93 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Worst goal difference in a season away: −55 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66) and Kickers Offenbach (1983–84)
 * Worst goal difference in a season at home: −38 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Worst goal difference in a season opening half: −50 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Worst goal difference in a season closing half: −43 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Most games scoring in a season: 34 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Scoring in every game of the season (30 games): 1. FC Köln (1963–64)
 * Scoring in every game of the season (34 games): Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most clean sheets in a season: 21 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most clean sheets in a season away: 12 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most wins with a clean sheet in a season: 21 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most wins with at least 2 goals up in a season: 23 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Biggest loss at home: 0–9 by Tasmania Berlin against MSV Duisburg (matchday 27 of 1965–66)
 * Biggest win at home: 12–0 by Borussia Mönchengladbach against Borussia Dortmund (matchday 34 of 1977–78)

Runs

 * Most consecutive wins: 15 by Bayern Munich (matchday 26 of 2004–05 to matchday 6 of 2005–06)
 * Most consecutive wins in a season: 14 by Bayern Munich (matchday 18 to 31 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins from start of the season: 8 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins from start of the season closing half: 14 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins away: 9 by Bayern Munich (matchday 14 to 30 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins at home: 26 by Bayern Munich (matchday 16 of 1971–72 to matchday 32 of 1972–73)
 * Most consecutive wins at home in a season: 16 by Bayern Munich (matchday 2 to 32 of 1972–73)
 * Most consecutive wins at home from start of the season: 16 by Bayern Munich (1972–73)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten: 40 by Bayern Munich (matchday 10 of 2012–13 to matchday 15 of 2013–14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten in a season: 28 by Borussia Dortmund (matchday 7 to 34 of 2011–12)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten from start of the season: 24 by Bayer Leverkusen (2009–10)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten from start of the season closing half: 17 by Borussia Dortmund (2011–12) and Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten away: 26 by Bayern Munich (matchday 19 of 1985–86 to matchday 1 of 1987–88 and matchday 32 of 2011–12 to matchday 15 of 2013–14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games unbeaten at home: 73 by Bayern Munich (matchday 31 of 1969–70 to matchday 4 of 1974–75)
 * Most consecutive games without a win: 31 by Tasmania Berlin (matchday 2 to 32 of 1965–66)
 * Most consecutive games without a win from start of the season: 15 by 1. Nürnberg (2013-14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games without a win from start of the season closing half: 14 by Tasmania Berlin (1965–66)
 * Most consecutive games without a win away: 34 by Eintracht Frankfurt (matchday 5 of 1985–86 to matchday 3 of 1987–88)
 * Most consecutive games without a win at home: 17 by Hertha BSC Berlin (matchday 4 to 34 of 2009–10 and matchday 1 of 2011–12) and Greuther Fürth (matchday 1 to 33 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games without a win at home in a season: 17 by Greuther Fürth (matchday 1 to 33 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games without a win at home from start of the season: 17 by Greuther Fürth (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games losing: 11 by 1. FC Nürnberg (matchday 25 to 34 of 1983–84 and matchday 1 of 1985–86)
 * Most consecutive games losing in a season: 10 by Tasmania Berlin (matchday 9 to 18 of 1965–66), 1. FC Nürnberg (matchday 25 to 34 of 1983–84) and Arminia Bielefeld (matchday 12 to 21 of 1999–00)
 * Most consecutive games losing away: 29 by 1. FC Nürnberg (matchday 11 of 1982–83 to 34 of 1983–84)
 * Most consecutive games losing at home: 8 by Tasmania Berlin (matchday 3 to 17 of 1965–66) and FC Hansa Rostock (matchday 2 to 15 of 2004–05)
 * Most consecutive games losing at home from start of the (home) season: 8 by FC Hansa Rostock (2004–05)
 * Most consecutive games losing from start of the season: 6 by Fortuna Düsseldorf (1991–92)
 * Most consecutive games losing from start of the season closing half: 7 by Hannover 96 (2009–10)
 * Most consecutive games scoring in: 52 by Bayern Munich (matchday 32 of 2011–12 to matchday 15 of 2013–14) (ongoing)
 * Most consecutive games scoring in from start of the season: 34 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games scoring in a season: 34 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games without scoring: 10 by 1. FC Köln (matchday 15 to 24 of 2001–02)
 * Most consecutive minutes without scoring: 1,034 by 1. FC Köln (from minute 31 of matchday 14 to minute 75 of matchday 25 of 2001–02)
 * Most consecutive minutes without conceding away: 658 by Bayern Munich (from minute 46 of matchday 12 to minute 75 of matchday 26 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet: 9 by VfB Stuttgart (matchday 34 of 2002–03 to matchday 8 of 2003–04)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet in a season: 8 by VfB Stuttgart (matchday 1 to 8 of 2003–04)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet from start of the season: 8 by VfB Stuttgart (2003–04)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet at home: 9 by VfL Bochum (matchday 8 to 24 of 2003–04)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet away: 6 by 1. FC Köln (matchday 6 to 16 of 2009–10) and Bayern Munich (matchday 14 to 24 of 2012–13)
 * Most consecutive games with a clean sheet away from start of the season: 5 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins with a clean sheet away from start of the season: 5 by Bayern Munich (2012–13)
 * Most consecutive wins with a clean sheet away: 6 by Bayern Munich (matchday 14 to 24 of 2012–13)

Miscellaneous

 * Most games left when becoming champions: 6 by Bayern Munich (matchday 28 of 2012–13)
 * Most matchdays being league leaders in a season: 34 (all of them) in five seasons by Bayern Munich (1968–69, 1972–73, 1984–85, 2007–08 and 2012–13)
 * Least matchdays being league leaders in a season for the champion: 1 by Bayern Munich (1985–86)
 * Least seasons before becoming champion after being promoted: 1 by 1. FC Kaiserslautern (Promotion: 1996–97; Champion: 1997–98)
 * Least seasons before getting relegated for a champion: 1 by 1. FC Nürnberg (Champion of 1967–68; Relegation: 1968–69)
 * Most seasons in the Bundesliga: 51 (all seasons) by Hamburger SV
 * Most goals scored in a season: 1,097 in 306 matches (1983–84) (3,58 goals per game)
 * Least goals scored in a season: 790 in 306 matches (1989–90) (2,58 goals per game)
 * Most goals scored on a single matchday: 53 (matchday 32 of 1983–84)
 * Least goals scored on a single matchday: 11 (matchday 26 of 1989–90 and matchday 20 of 1998–99)
 * Most wins away on a single matchday: 7 (matchday 2 of 2010–11)
 * Most red cards on a single matchday: 8 (matchday 3 of 2013–14)
 * 6 April was the earliest point of time in a year for a team (Bayern Munich in 2013) to be crowned champions.
 * Highest number of viewers in a game: 88,075 by Hertha BSC Berlin against 1. FC Köln (matchday 6 of 1969–70)
 * Lowest number of viewers in a game: 827 by Tasmania Berlin against Borussia Mönchengladbach (matchday 19 of 1965–66)
 * Most frequent match: 50 times Hamburger SV vs. Werder Bremen (respectively 49 times Werder Bremen vs. Hamburger SV with the 50th game still to be played this season)
 * Most frequent result: 1–1 (12% of all matches)
 * Highest Transfer fee: €40 million for Javi Martinez (2012 from Athletic Bilbao)