History of Bundesliga in Timeline
The Bundesliga is Germany's premier professional football league, consisting of 18 teams that compete in a promotion and relegation system with the 2. Bundesliga. The season runs from August to May, with matches primarily held on weekends. Bundesliga clubs also participate in the DFB-Pokal cup competition, and the league winner earns a spot in the DFL-Supercup.
January 1900: Deutscher Fußball Bund (DFB) founded
On 28 January 1900, the Deutscher Fußball Bund (DFB) was founded in Leipzig.
May 1903: First recognized national championship team
On 31 May 1903, VfB Leipzig became the first recognized national championship team.
1903: German men's titles since 1903 to be recognized
The DFB's November 2005 decision to allow all former champions to display a single star inscribed with the number of titles, including all German men's titles since 1903.
1949: Part-time professionalism introduced
In 1949, part-time (semi-) professionalism was introduced in German football.
1950: Formation of the DS-Oberliga
In 1950, the DS-Oberliga (Deutscher Sportausschuss Oberliga) was formed in East Germany.
1958: DS-Oberliga renamed
In 1958, the DS-Oberliga was renamed the Football Oberliga DFV.
July 1962: Bundesliga created in Dortmund
On 28 July 1962, the Bundesliga was created in Dortmund at the Westfalenhallen.
1962: Bundesliga founded in Dortmund
The Bundesliga was founded in 1962 in Dortmund.
August 1963: First Bundesliga games played
The first Bundesliga games were played on 24 August 1963, with 1. FC Köln becoming the first champion.
1963: Inaugural year milestone
A special logo was developed for the 2012–13 season to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga, featuring a "50" and "1963–2013".
1963: Relegation from the Bundesliga
From 1963 until 1981 two, or later three, teams were relegated from the Bundesliga automatically.
1963: First Bundesliga championship
From the 1963–64 season until the 2024–25 season, there have been 62 Bundesliga championships.
1963: Bundesliga play begins
In 1963, the Bundesliga began play starting with the 1963–64 season.
1963: Start date for counting championships for "Verdiente Meistervereine" recognition
In 2004, the honor of "Verdiente Meistervereine" was introduced, recognizing teams that have won three or more championships since 1963 by the display of gold stars on their team badges and jerseys.
1963: Dominance in the Bundesliga era since 1963
Since 1963, the beginning of the modern Bundesliga era, FC Bayern Munich has won a record 32 titles of 59 available.
1974: 2. Bundesliga creation
In 1974, the 2. Bundesliga (2nd Bundesliga) became the second tier of German football.
1974: Recognition of German women's titles since 1974
In November 2005, the DFB decided to allow all former champions to display a single star inscribed with the number of titles, including women's titles since 1974.
1976: Bundesliga leading UEFA ranking
From 1976, the Bundesliga led the UEFA ranking.
1981: Relegation from the Bundesliga
From 1963 until 1981 two, or later three, teams were relegated from the Bundesliga automatically.
1981: Promotion and relegation system in use
From 1981 until 1991, the Bundesliga used an earlier German system of promotion and relegation.
1984: Bundesliga leading UEFA ranking
Until 1984, the Bundesliga led the UEFA ranking.
1990: East German leagues merged
Following German reunification in 1990, the East German leagues were merged into the West German system.
1990: Bundesliga leading UEFA ranking
In 1990, the Bundesliga led the UEFA ranking.
1991: East German leagues merged
Following German reunification in 1990, the East German leagues were merged into the West German system, and Dynamo Dresden and FC Hansa Rostock were seeded into the top-tier Bundesliga division ahead of the 1991–92 Bundesliga.
1991: Promotion and relegation system in use
From 1981 until 1991, the Bundesliga used an earlier German system of promotion and relegation.
1992: J.League of Japan founded
Founded in 1992, the J.League of Japan was strongly influenced by the philosophy of the Bundesliga.
1992: Different system used for relegation
From 1992 until 2008, the bottom three finishers of the Bundesliga were automatically relegated.
1995: Change in point system
Since the 1995–96 season, a victory in Bundesliga has been worth three points.
1996: Bundesliga gets its own logo
In 1996, for the first time, the Bundesliga was given its own logo to distinguish itself.
1997: Dortmund won the Champions League
Having won the Champions League in 1997, Dortmund had gambled on maintaining their success with an expensive group of largely foreign players but failed.
2000: Youth academy requirement
After 2000, the German Football Association and the Bundesliga required every club to run a youth academy.
2002: Introduction of opening matches
Starting with the 2002-03 season, opening matches were introduced to feature defending champions on Friday nights on the first match day.
2004: Borussia Dortmund's debt
In 2004, Borussia Dortmund reported a debt of €118.8 million.
2004: Introduction of "Verdiente Meistervereine"
In 2004, the "Verdiente Meistervereine" (distinguished champion clubs) honor was introduced in Germany, recognizing teams with three or more championships since 1963 by displaying gold stars on their badges and jerseys.
November 2005: DFB allows former champions to display stars
In November 2005, the DFB decided to allow all former champions, including pre-Bundesliga, women's, and East German champions, to display a single star inscribed with the number of titles.
2006: Dortmund narrowly escaping liquidation
In 2006, Dortmund narrowly escaped liquidation.
2006: Gazprom becomes a major sponsor
In 2006, Gazprom became a major sponsor of Bundesliga football.
2008: Bundesliga clubs' profitability
After the 2008–09 season, 11 of the 18 Bundesliga clubs were profitable.
2008: Different system used for relegation
From 1992 until 2008, the bottom three finishers of the Bundesliga were automatically relegated.
2008: Bayern Munich's net profit
In the 2008–09 season, Bayern Munich made a net profit of just €2.5 million.
2008: Reinstatement of promotion and relegation system
In the 2008–09 season, the Bundesliga reinstated an earlier German system of promotion and relegation.
2008: 3. Liga becomes a professional league
Since 2008, the 3. Liga (3rd League) in Germany has also been a professional league.
September 2009: UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations agreed upon
In September 2009, the clubs in the Bundesliga became subject to regulations not unlike the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.
2009: Schalke 04's net loss
In the 2009 financial year, Schalke 04 made a net loss of €30.4 million.
2009: Bundesliga's turnover
In the 2009–10 season, the Bundesliga's turnover was €1.7bn.
June 2010: Clubs officially allowed to wear stars
Since June 2010, certain clubs have been officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the Bundesliga based on the number of Bundesliga titles won.
2010: Investment in youth academies
As of 2010, the Bundesliga and second Bundesliga spent €75m a year on youth academies.
2010: Restoration of revamped logo
In 2010, a new logo was announced to modernise the brand logo. The logo was revamped into a portrait orientation, which was used until 2010. Following the 2012-13 season, the 2010 logo was restored.
2012: FC Bayern Munich's Consecutive Bundesliga titles begins
Between the 2012–13 season and the 2022–23 season, FC Bayern Munich won 11 consecutive titles.
2012: Special logo for the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga, a special logo was developed for the 2012–13 season, featuring a "50" and "1963–2013".
2013: 50th anniversary marked with a special logo.
A special logo was developed for the 2012–13 season to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bundesliga, featuring a "50" and "1963–2013".
2013: Bayern Munich winning streak
In 2013, Bayern Munich began a record-setting streak of eleven consecutive Bundesliga titles.
July 2014: One star designation system adopted
As of July 2014, a system of one star designation was adopted for use, taking into account not only Bundesliga titles but also other national championships.
2015: StarTimes acquires Bundesliga rights for Sub-Saharan Africa
In 2015, StarTimes acquired exclusive television rights for Bundesliga in Sub-Saharan Africa for five years, starting with the 2015-2016 season.
December 2016: Announcement of a new logo for Bundesliga
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.
2016: StarTimes begins broadcasting Bundesliga in Sub-Saharan Africa
The 2015-2016 season, starting in 2016, marked the beginning of StarTimes' five-year broadcast of Bundesliga in Sub-Saharan Africa after acquiring exclusive television rights in 2015.
2017: Bundesliga matches broadcast
From 2017 to 2018, Bundesliga matches were broadcast on TV in Germany on Sky Deutschland and Eurosport.
2017: Bundesliga outperforms Premier League in online influence in China
In 2017, the Bundesliga outperformed the English Premier League in online influence in China.
2017: New Bundesliga logo introduced
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.
May 2018: Hamburger SV relegated for the first time
On 12 May 2018, Hamburger SV, a founding club, was relegated for the first time.
2018: Bundesliga matches broadcast
From 2017 to 2018, Bundesliga matches were broadcast on TV in Germany on Sky Deutschland and Eurosport.
2018: Sky arranges simulcasts
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.
April 2019: Revierderby broadcast on Das Erste
In April 2019, the Revierderby was broadcast on Das Erste.
2019: Eurosport sublicensed broadcast rights to DAZN
Prior to the 2019–20 season, Eurosport sublicensed its broadcast rights to sports streaming service DAZN.
2020: ESPN holds rights in the United States
ESPN has held rights to broadcast the Bundesliga in the United States since the beginning of the 2020–21 season.
2020: Eurosport sublicensed broadcast rights to DAZN
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.
2020: Bundesliga absent from Taiwanese television
The 2020-21 season marks the last time Bundesliga was aired on Taiwanese television before its expected return in 2024.
2021: Kick off times changed
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.
2022: FC Bayern Munich's Consecutive Bundesliga titles streak until 2022
Between the 2012–13 season and the 2022–23 season, FC Bayern Munich won 11 consecutive titles.
2022: Kick off times changed
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.
2023: Bundesliga average attendance
As of the 2023-24 season, the Bundesliga averaged 39,512 spectators per game.
2023: Bayern Munich winning streak
In 2023, Bayern Munich concluded a record-setting streak of eleven consecutive Bundesliga titles.
2024: UEFA ranking for the 2024–25 season
For the 2024–25 season, the Bundesliga is ranked fourth in Europe according to UEFA's league coefficient ranking.
2024: Bundesliga championships
From the 1963–64 season until the 2024–25 season, there have been 62 Bundesliga championships.
2024: Bundesliga broadcast in Indonesia
In 2024, Bundesliga is aired on Vision+, RCTI, and iNews in Indonesia, but is unavailable on beIN Sports Asia since the previous season.
2024: Bundesliga returns to Taiwanese television
In 2024, ELTA TV in Taiwan is expected to air Bundesliga, marking its return to Taiwanese television since the 2020-21 season.
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