Football Culture
Top 10 best German soccer teams
German soccer teams over the years have enjoyed remarkable success in European competitions and on the world stage.
One thing about German soccer which makes it more interesting is the 50+1 rule, which allows fans to have the upper hand in the day-to-day management of soccer teams in the country.
This move has made it more attractive for fans to be engaged in the league.
At Interesting Football, we’ve ranked the most successful German soccer teams in history
1. Bayern Munich
The Munich-based club has won a record number of Bundesliga and other numerous domestic and international trophies since its establishment.
Although the club was not a founding member of the Bundesliga and had to come through the lower divisions, it’s more like it owns the division.
Bayern enjoyed early success, which could be tagged one of the greatest moments of the club’s history in the mid-1970s.
In terms of overall performance on the European continent, Bayern Munich has won six European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles, which is a German record and the reason behind the club’s four stars on its logo.
Bayern Munich is also the second European club to achieve a continental treble twice after completing it in 2020.
2. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund is the second-best football team in Germany and has consistently retained this position over the years.
Founded in 1909, Dortmund has proven to be one of the most supported soccer clubs in Germany.
Dortmund has won eight Bundesliga titles, five DFB-Pokals, one UEFA Champions League, one Intercontinental Cup, and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
3. SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is regarded as the third-best German soccer team in history. Although the club has faced ups and downs in recent years, it is still one of the biggest teams in the history of soccer in the country.
The club also shares the record for most seasons played in the Bundesliga with Bayern Múnich.
Founded in 1899, SV Werder Bremen have won four Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, three DFL-Supercups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. To add to the club’s trophy cabinet, SV Werder Bremen won the “Double” in 2003–04.
4. Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV is one of the few German soccer clubs that have achieved success internationally, along with Bayern, Dortmund, Bremen, etc.
Hamburger SV is one of the most supported football clubs in the country internationally. Until 2018, before its relegation, it was the only club to remain in the Bundesliga since its establishment in 1963.
The club’s most successful period was in the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s. During this period, the club won major domestic trophies like UEFA Champions League (European Cup) in 1982–83 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976–77.
5. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is one of Germany’s best soccer teams in history. Gladbach was founded in 1900 and is the fifth-largest soccer club in Germany.
Borussia Mönchengladbach has won five Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals, and two UEFA Cup (Europa League) winners between 1974–75 and 1978–79.
Mönchengladbach won the “Double” in the 1974–75 season and revisited its name on the list of German soccer teams with the “Double” following a successful outing in the League and the UEFA Europa.
6. VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart prides itself as one of the most successful teams in Germany. It is also one of the largest sports clubs in the country.
7. Schalke 04
Schalke is one of the most popular professional football teams and multi-purpose sports clubs in Germany.
Founded in 1904, “The Royal Blues have won over seven German Championships, five DFB-Pokals, one DFL-Supercup and one UEFA Cup (Europa League).
Schalke 04 is among the top internationally recognised German soccer teams, alongside Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, etc.
8. FC Köln
Köln, or FC Cologne, is another top side in German soccer. Köln has won two Bundesliga titles and four German Cups
9. Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt has enjoyed more success in the DFB-Pokal, winning the German knockout cup Competition five times.
The club also had its name listed as one of the clubs from Germany with an international trophy after following the success it recorded in the 1979–80 UEFA Cup.
10. FC Kaiserslautern
FC Kaiserslautern was one of the early big names in the country. The club has won the DFB-Pokal twice and two Bundesliga 2 trophies.
How popular is soccer in Germany
Soccer remains the most popular sport in the German Federal Republic. The sport has grown from a regular sport to a tradition among fans and lovers of the game throughout the country.
The love for the sport was behind the push by fans to introduce the 50+1 rule.
The 50+1 allows fans to own and control major shares of professional soccer clubs in Germany, especially teams in the two Bundesliga divisions.
The fans’ involvement in the game has also helped smaller clubs gain popularity and sponsorship and endorsement deals from the corporate organisation.
This makes Germany the successive big league with more sponsors and money from Television broadcast partners domestically and internationally.