Thursday, July 10, 2014

Bundesliga -- The German Football Federal League


With Germany poised to compete in the 2014 World Cup final I thought it might be a good idea to look at the organization of soccer in that country.

The Bundesliga -- German Football Federal League -- is a professional association football league (soccer) in Germany.  

According to wikipedia -- the Bundesliga has the highest average stadium attendance of any league in the world, and is broadcast on television in over 200 countries.  

The Bundesliga is a competition among 18 teams that operates on a system of promotion and relegation.  At least 52 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga since its founding.

1970s lapel badges for West Germany's top teams

The Bundesliga was founded in 1962 in Dortmund with the first season played in 1963.

Over the years the top teams in the league have included FC Bayern Munich (league champions 23 times), Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfB Stuttgart.

One reason Germany is a world wide soccer force is because it has such a highly structured and organized youth training system.

Update July 13, 2014...

What an outstanding 2014 World Cup final -- Germany  defeated Argentina 1 - 0 in a double overtime.

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