Country | Germany |
---|---|
Confederation | UEFA |
Founded | 1963 |
Number of teams | 18 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | 2. Bundesliga |
Domestic cup(s) | |
International cup(s) | |
Current champions |
Bayern Munich (25th title) (2015–16) |
Most championships | Bayern Munich (25 titles) |
TV partners | |
Website | bundesliga.com |
2016–17 Bundesliga |
The Bundesliga [ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa] (lit. English: "Federal League", sometimes referred to as the Fußball-Bundesliga [ˈfuːsbal ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa] or 1. Bundesliga [ˈeːɐ̯stə ˈbʊndəsˌliːɡa]), is a professional association football league in Germany and the football league with the highest average stadium attendance 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 on weekdays. All of the Bundesliga clubs qualify for the DFB-Pokal. The winner of the Bundesliga qualifies for the DFL-Supercup.
A total of 54 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga since its founding. FC Bayern Munich has won the Bundesliga the most, winning the title 25 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 second in Europe according to UEFA's league coefficient ranking, based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons. 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 after the National Football League. The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries.