Bundesliga title winners: List of all-time German league champions as Bayern Munich seal glory again
Context:
Bayern Munich has solidified its dominance in German football with an impressive record of 34 league titles, 33 of which were achieved since the Bundesliga's creation in 1963, and one prior in 1932. Historically, German football was structured around regional championships until the Bundesliga's establishment in 1963, which brought a unified league system. FC Nurnberg and Borussia Dortmund follow Bayern as the most successful teams, with nine and eight titles, respectively. The Bundesliga's formation marked the end of a knockout competition era, with FC Koln winning the inaugural Bundesliga title in 1963/64. A significant transformation in German football history is highlighted by the post-World War II disorganization, which was eventually resolved with the structured league format of the Bundesliga.
Dive Deeper:
Bayern Munich's unparalleled success in German football is marked by winning 34 league titles, with 33 of these victories occurring since the Bundesliga began in 1963, and an additional title in 1932, making them the only club with double-digit championships.
The German Football Association (DFB), founded in 1900, initially lacked the authority to organize a national league, resulting in a regional championship system that determined the national champion through a knockout format from 1903 to 1944.
The establishment of the Bundesliga in 1963 marked a significant turning point in German football, transitioning from a regional knockout competition to a national league structure, awarding the national title to the league winner.
FC Koln claimed the first Bundesliga championship in the 1963/64 season, with Bayern Munich beginning their dominance by winning their first Bundesliga title in the 1968/69 season, followed by a streak of consecutive victories starting in 1970/71.
FC Nurnberg and Borussia Dortmund are notable for their historical success in German football, with Nurnberg securing nine league titles, primarily before the Bundesliga's inception, and Dortmund claiming eight titles, showcasing their competitive legacy.
German football experienced disarray following World War II, but the formation of the Bundesliga provided a structured league system that allowed the sport to thrive and develop into the powerful competition it is today.
The inclusion of Rapid Wien, an Austrian club, in the German league during 1941 highlights the complex historical context of German football, reflecting the geopolitical landscape of the time.
The German top flight produces some of the biggest clubs and most electric football in not just Europe but indeed the entire world. Bayern Munich have regained their place at its summit.
The Bavarians have dominated German football over the past two decades, but they haven't always been in control of the Bundesliga narrative.
In fact, German football existed long before the Bundesliga was even established, and it survived through the post-World War turmoil twice.
The Sporting News brings you an overview of who has the most Bundesliga titles, when they were won, and how the country's football history has evolved.
Who has the most Bundesliga titles?
As you might imagine, Bayern Munich have won the most German league titles by a distance.The Bavarians have won 34 total championships, the only club in double digits. Of those, 33 have come since the inception of the Bundesliga, with one additional title before that in the 1932 season.
FC Nurnberg's dominance back in the old setup of the league has them second all-time with nine titles, while modern challengers Borussia Dortmund are third with eight.
When was the Bundesliga established?
The German Football Association (DFB) was established in 1900, but it did not have enough control over the nation's game to hold an officially recognized league until 1903. VfB Leipzig, now known as Lokomotiv Leipzig, won the very first German league title that year.From 1903-1944, the league title was awarded to the winner of a knockout competition contested between the winners of the nation's regional champions.
Following World War II, German football was disorganized, but the Bundesliga was officially established in 1963. This saw the knockout competition abolished and a pyramid structure established throughout the country, with the national title awarded to the league winner.
FC Koln won the first Bundesliga title in 1963/64, with a new winner each season until 1970/71 when Borussia Monchengladbach won back-to-back titles. Bayern won their first Bundesliga title in 1968/69, and with three straight from 1970/71-1973/74, their dominance began.
List of all-time German league champions
German league titles prior to Bundesliga inception in 1963. Bundesliga titles after inception of the league in 1963.
*Vienna was part of Germany and included in the German league in 1941 when Austrian club Rapid Wien won the titleClub Total championships won German league titles (before 1963) Seasons Bundesliga titles Bundesliga seasons Bayern Munich 34 1 1932 33 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, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2024/25 FC Nurnberg 9 8 1920, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1936, 1948, 1961 1 1967/68 Borussia Dortmund 8 3 1956, 1957, 1963 5 1994/95, 1995/96, 2001/02, 2010/11, 2011/12 Schalke 04 7 7 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1958 0 — Hamburger SV 6 3 1923, 1928, 1960 3 1978/79, 1981/82, 1982/83 Stuttgart 5 2 1950, 1952 3 1983/84, 1991/92, 2006/07 Gladbach 5 0 — 5 1969/70, 1970/71, 1974/75, 1975/76, 1976/77 Werder Bremen 4 0 — 4 1964/65, 1987/88, 1992/93, 2003/04 FC Kaiserslautern 4 2 1951, 1953 2 1990/91, 1997/98 FC Koln 3 1 1962 2 1963/64, 1977/78 Lokomotiv Leipzig 3 3 1903, 1906, 1913 0 — Greuther Furth 3 3 1914, 1926, 1929 0 — Hertha BSC 2 2 1930, 1931 0 — Viktoria 1889 Berlin 2 2 1908, 1911 0 — Dresdner SC 2 2 1943, 1944 0 — Hannover 96 2 2 1938, 1954 0 — Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1 0 — 1 2023/24 VfL Wolfsburg 1 0 – 1 2008/09 Eintracht Braunschweig 1 0 — 1 1966/67 1860 Munich 1 0 — 1 1965/66 Eintracht Frankfurt 1 1 1959 0 — Rot-Weiss Essen 1 1 1955 0 — VfR Mannheim 1 1 1949 0 — Fortuna Dusseldorf 1 1 1933 0 — Holstein Kiel 1 1 1912 0 — Karlsruher FV 1 1 1910 0 — Karlsruher SC 1 1 1909 0 — Freiburger FC 1 1 1907 0 — SpVg Blau-Weiss 90 Berlin 1 1 1905 0 — Rapid Wien* 1 1 1941 0 —