The Germans have a knack for being business savvy, as well as astute and determined. Whilst the world generally regards Germans as focused around industry, banking and automobiles, they are also fiercely proud of their Football. The German first division, known as the Bundesliga, has long been regarded as fourth place in Europe’s top five leagues, fighting a pitched battle between Italy’s Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1.
Recently, it has been declared that Germany’s Bundesliga has emerged as UEFA’s third ranked team in the association’s five-year coefficients system. This means that the German top division will secure a fourth UEFA Champions League spot for the 2012/13 season at the expense of Italy’s Serie A, who will receive only three qualification spots.
As a result of the German national team’s disastrous Euro 2004 first round elimination, a major league and national organisational reshuffle was undertaken. The plan was simple, to reorganise and refresh the countries youth policy and make it more professional. The effects of the total restructure and the subsequent contribution of the countries’ youth systems has immediately seen a rapid increase in German football’s health.
German Football has made significant advances in both Coaching and player development. Young coaches such as Thomas Tuchel of Mainz, Ralf Rangnick of Schalke, and of course Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund, play a modern style of football, with predominantly young squads of players.
The average age of this seasons champion; Borussia Dortmund was just 23 years of age.
German youngsters such as Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira are making their mark on Europe, and a host of up and coming talents are setting the Bundesliga alight. Players such as Mario Gotze of Dortmund, Marko Marin of Bremen, Manuel Neuer of Schalke, and of course world cup star Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich, are all being courted by top teams throughout the continent.
Add this production line of talents to the national teams consistent run of good form on the international stage, and frequently sold out stadiums, it is easy to see why many consider the Bundesliga as the healthiest league in Europe.
With the Bundesliga in such a good state of health, it’s only a matter of time until Europe’s silverware fills the cabinets of German clubs. The league itself has a lot to smile about, particularly when it boasts the world’s highest average league attendance record of over 42,000 fans per game.
As of Round 33 of the current 2010/11 season, tens of millions of fans attended league games with the final figure expected to hit an all-time record of 13.05 million when the league reaches its conclusion.