Every Bundesliga Champion by Season (1963-64 to 2025-26)

63 entries · verified 2026-07-20 · free · hand-checked by Ball IQ

The Bundesliga launched in 1963-64, replacing Germany's old regional-league playoff system with a single national top flight. Its very first champions were 1. FC Koln, and in the six decades since, the title has told the story of German football's shifting powers - from the Borussia Monchengladbach and Hamburger SV sides of the 1970s to the era of near-total Bayern Munich dominance.

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1. Which club became the only newly-promoted team to ever win the Bundesliga — in the 1997-98 season?

   A1. FC KaiserslauternBEnergie CottbusCHansa RostockDDynamo Dresden

   Kaiserslautern, managed by Otto Rehhagel, were promoted from 2. Bundesliga in 1997 and immediately won the top flight — a feat never repeated.

2. Which match produced the first-ever goal in the Bundesliga, in August 1963?

   AHamburg vs DortmundBCologne vs Preußen MünsterCBayern Munich vs DortmundDWerder Bremen vs Borussia Dortmund

   Timo Konietzka scored after 58 seconds for Dortmund at Werder Bremen on the opening day.

3. Which German club was founded in a pub in 1900 — making them one of the original German football clubs?

   ABayern MunichBSchalkeCCologneDHamburger SV

   Eleven breakaway members of MTV 1879 founded Bayern in a Munich tavern in February 1900 — the Cafe Gisela on Schwabing's edge.

4. Which club won the Bundesliga in 1997-98 under Otto Rehhagel — the season after being promoted from 2. Bundesliga?

   AHansa RostockBArminia BielefeldCEintracht FrankfurtD1. FC Kaiserslautern

   It was the club's fourth German championship and second Bundesliga-era title (after 1990-91), a unique feat the season after promotion.

5. Which club won their first Bundesliga title in 1990-91 under Karl-Heinz Feldkamp — finishing 3 points ahead of Bayern Munich?

   AKaiserslauternBWerder BremenCVfB StuttgartDDortmund

   The last Bundesliga season featuring only West German clubs saw the Red Devils lifted by the goals of Stefan Kuntz, Bruno Labbadia and Demir Hotic.

Bayern Munich are comfortably the record holders, having lifted the Meisterschale more than 30 times, including an unbroken run of eleven consecutive titles between 2012-13 and 2022-23. That streak was finally ended by Bayer Leverkusen, who went the entire 2023-24 season unbeaten to win their first-ever German championship under Xabi Alonso.

Bayern reclaimed the crown in 2024-25 with Leverkusen as runners-up, restoring the familiar order at the top. This page lists every champion and the side that finished second, season by season, so you can trace the full sweep of Bundesliga history in one place.

More on the Bundesliga

• Bundesliga Top Scorers by Season (1963-64 to 2025-26) 63 entries
• Clubs With the Most Bundesliga Titles 13 entries

Every Bundesliga Champion by Season (1963-64 to 2025-26) — FAQ