Bayern MunichBorussia DortmundDFBfootballGerman National TeamGermanyInter MilanManchester UnitedSchalke 04soccer
The Bundesliga - Germany's top football league
At some time, I figured a post dealing with sports was long overdue. In the U.S., you can take your pick between sports: baseball, American football, basketball, hockey. In the U.K., it could be football, rugby, or cricket. In Germany, it is football, soccer, and Fußball. In other words, like in most countries, König Fußball, King Football rules.
Germany's Bundesliga is much like its national team. Although most superstars play in either The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, or Italy's Serie A, and although the Germans lack the playful drops, juggles and nutmegs of their Southern American counterparts, there is no doubt that the Bundesliga is still a very solid brand. The fact that no club can be majority owned by any one individual plays a lot into this. Add to it that tickets are still quite affordable, and you'll see why the league is still one of the top destinations in the world. It almost makes you forget about Bayern Munich's thorough dominance of the league.
What makes Bayern Munich's success even more remarkable is the fact that they are debt free, which is unheard of in these days of big business and even bigger debts that elite clubs like Manchester United, Inter Milan, or Paris Saint Germain have run up with incredible ease. Bayern Munich is hardly a club of tradition like Borussia Dortmund or Schalke 04. Until the 1970's they weren't even the most popular club in Munich, yet with success on the pitch, plus good management, in large part thanks to the support and participation of many of its former players, Bayern has become untouchable in Germany. This is a club that, with the backing of heavyweight sponsors like Allianz, Adidas, Audi or Telekom, can almost print their own money. Bayern has won five straight Bundesliga titles and is well on their way to a sixth.
In England, Manchester United has Liverpool and Manchester City as their main rivals, Arsenal has Tottenham. Juventus has both clubs from Milan, plus Roma and Napoli that are liable to contend in any year. Real Madrid has Barcelona. Bayern Munich has 17 other clubs green with envy and little else.
And just where does the success of the German National Team come from, people wonder? For one, Germany's idea of the word 'team' is well defined. German players have always been well trained and well managed. Every player has a football awareness that's been inculcated since they were kids, everybody is aware of their responsibilities on the field, on offense and defense. The hierarchy is very well defined, dissension within the ranks is rare.
Then there is the DFB (Deutscher Fußball Bund), the German Soccer Association, itself, who have elevated scouting to an art. Now many people will say that scouting should fall within the realm of the clubs, which is partially true. That said, the association knows that the money spent on scouting is Euros well spent, since the National team ultimately benefits. Doesn't the image of the club itself gain whenever any of their players are called up? The Association itself has a certain type of player (and leader) type in mind, not every successful club player and manager would necessarily be successful with the national team, or die Mannschaft.
Then there is the preparation factor. Hardly any team comes to a tournament as well prepared as the Germans. As a reminder: German management, not thoroughly satisfied with the hotel and resort options available to them in Brazil 2014, built their own complex. The Germans winning the World Cup was not an accident, and preparation played a huge factor in it.
There are challenges in the league, however. The 50+1 rule, designed to keep most voting rights with the club and by extension the fans, is being threatened. Virtually every player of any skill, once his contract is up these days, will likely sign for Bayern. And then there are sports clubs like Leipzig, Wolfsburg, and Hoffenheim that are increasingly depending on patrons and wealthy investors to remain competitive.
In all, still a great product, German football. Let's enjoy it while it's still affordable.
Germany's Bundesliga is much like its national team. Although most superstars play in either The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, or Italy's Serie A, and although the Germans lack the playful drops, juggles and nutmegs of their Southern American counterparts, there is no doubt that the Bundesliga is still a very solid brand. The fact that no club can be majority owned by any one individual plays a lot into this. Add to it that tickets are still quite affordable, and you'll see why the league is still one of the top destinations in the world. It almost makes you forget about Bayern Munich's thorough dominance of the league.
What makes Bayern Munich's success even more remarkable is the fact that they are debt free, which is unheard of in these days of big business and even bigger debts that elite clubs like Manchester United, Inter Milan, or Paris Saint Germain have run up with incredible ease. Bayern Munich is hardly a club of tradition like Borussia Dortmund or Schalke 04. Until the 1970's they weren't even the most popular club in Munich, yet with success on the pitch, plus good management, in large part thanks to the support and participation of many of its former players, Bayern has become untouchable in Germany. This is a club that, with the backing of heavyweight sponsors like Allianz, Adidas, Audi or Telekom, can almost print their own money. Bayern has won five straight Bundesliga titles and is well on their way to a sixth.
In England, Manchester United has Liverpool and Manchester City as their main rivals, Arsenal has Tottenham. Juventus has both clubs from Milan, plus Roma and Napoli that are liable to contend in any year. Real Madrid has Barcelona. Bayern Munich has 17 other clubs green with envy and little else.
And just where does the success of the German National Team come from, people wonder? For one, Germany's idea of the word 'team' is well defined. German players have always been well trained and well managed. Every player has a football awareness that's been inculcated since they were kids, everybody is aware of their responsibilities on the field, on offense and defense. The hierarchy is very well defined, dissension within the ranks is rare.
Then there is the DFB (Deutscher Fußball Bund), the German Soccer Association, itself, who have elevated scouting to an art. Now many people will say that scouting should fall within the realm of the clubs, which is partially true. That said, the association knows that the money spent on scouting is Euros well spent, since the National team ultimately benefits. Doesn't the image of the club itself gain whenever any of their players are called up? The Association itself has a certain type of player (and leader) type in mind, not every successful club player and manager would necessarily be successful with the national team, or die Mannschaft.
Then there is the preparation factor. Hardly any team comes to a tournament as well prepared as the Germans. As a reminder: German management, not thoroughly satisfied with the hotel and resort options available to them in Brazil 2014, built their own complex. The Germans winning the World Cup was not an accident, and preparation played a huge factor in it.
There are challenges in the league, however. The 50+1 rule, designed to keep most voting rights with the club and by extension the fans, is being threatened. Virtually every player of any skill, once his contract is up these days, will likely sign for Bayern. And then there are sports clubs like Leipzig, Wolfsburg, and Hoffenheim that are increasingly depending on patrons and wealthy investors to remain competitive.
In all, still a great product, German football. Let's enjoy it while it's still affordable.
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