5 most successful clubs in Bundesliga history

While La Liga and the English Premier League continue to gain ground and visibility over the years, it is the German topflight, the Bundesliga, that has made the difference. While the others have good viewership, funding, and expensive transfers, this league has its unique capability. Yes, they are largely owned by fans and have won most Champions League titles in recent years. 

The German clubs have a unique distinction in their style of play as well. While some leagues have pace in it, this league is about chaotic patience. Amidst this chaos, the teams have successfully won the titles and hearts.

Here are the 5 most successful clubs in Bundesliga history: 

1. Bayern Munich 

To be honest, Bayern Munich are the most ruthless and the most dominant club in the history of football, putting some big clubs to shame. There is no way they will be defeated for two consecutive years. Explaining the dominance of the Bavarian giants is explaining why water is wet. Collecting Bundesliga titles has been their hobby and they have 32 Bundesliga titles in their trophy cabinet. Ever since the 1960s, they have bullied the opposition in terms of matches, titles and transfers. 

The likes of Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller in the 1970s made goals look easier than ordering a beer in the annual Oktoberfest. The club has 69 domestic trophies since their existence in the German top flight. Bayern Munich have also got a knack for pinching the best players from the rivals, including the infamous transfer of Robert Lewandowski. The craziest part of Bayern’s dominance is that their worst finish in the last 20 years is still better than most clubs' best season.

2. Borussia Dortmund

The Yellow Brigade is something every football club aspires to have. Their tifos continue to win the hearts of every neutral. While the five Bundesliga titles (eight top-flight titles) continue to fall short in terms of Bayern Munich’s titles, Borussia Dortmund have various stories to tell. The 1990s were the golden age of German football for this club with Ottmar Hitzfeld having these guys playing football that was prettier than a postcard from the Rhineland. The second wave of their best football came in 2011 and 2012 when Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football made the fans go crazy about gegenpressing. 

Those days, when Lewandowski scored goals for fun and Marco Reus bamboozled defenders, the fans made more noise than they used to in the rock concert. The team went on to lose their best players but they are known for their scouting of the best players and the new players were spawning to challenge for the title. The best part of Dortmund is if their fans get going, there is no stopping and feeling like a party. 

3. Borussia Mönchengladbach

While over the years the club’s stature has gone down due to poor form, and poor performance, Borussia Monchengladbach were a side that was too good to watch. Slick football and bullying opposition were their main work. In the 1970s, they had five titles in eight years, making them the third-highest winners in the Bundesliga. They were self-made and were termed “The Foals” due to the young and wild players they possessed. Hennes Weisweiler had the team playing the mad attacking style of football, giving a headache to others. 

Gunter Netzer, the most popular player in the history of the club, used to play the game like Mozart composing the music. The old ground, the Bokelberg, was a fortress where the Liverpool of those times were thrashed 5-0. Despite the days being gone, they are still sticking to their culture. Giving youngsters a chance, attacking football and making fans smile. Their fans keep showing up at Borussia Park, singing about the glory days and hoping for another golden era. 

4. Werder Bremen 

The River Islanders Werder’s four titles do not sound fancy but the players from Weser River have always done things their way. Otto Rehhagel’s era in the late 80s and early 90s imbibed one philosophy, playing wild and attacking football giving their opposition defenders a headache. They were the bunch of players who would lose 5-4 but hated to win 1-0. The double-winning team of 2004 with Johan Micoud was nothing but pure magic. 

The club has its ups and downs, even roller coaster rides than a theme park but never fazed away from their identity. Despite getting relegated, they stuck to their guns. The Weserstadion ground sits on a little island amid a river, which is the best bit of the club.  

5. Hamburger SV 

The Fallen Giants Six titles might not jump off the page, but Hamburg's story is like one of those classic German fairy tales - minus the happy ending lately. These guys were the only club to play every Bundesliga season since it started in 1963 until that painful relegation in 2018. 

Back in their glory days, Hamburg was a proper box office - had this European Cup in their pocket from '83, legendary players like Uwe Seeler who scored goals for breakfast, and this massive clock in their stadium showing how long they'd been in the top flight. The crazy part? They went from being one of Germany's biggest clubs to scrapping it out in the second division. It's like watching your posh uncle who used to drive a Mercedes now riding a bicycle.