The Splendid Story of the Bayernliga: Germany’s Oldest Football League
Visit the Bayernliga website and you’ll find one of the oldest football leagues in German history. The Bayernliga was founded in 1945 by German football officials and has remained a powerful force in German football ever since. It has grown and expanded over the years, with some teams joining from other regional leagues, while others remain loyal to the original competition.
History & Development
The Bayernliga is considered one of the oldest existing football leagues in Germany. It began as a regional amateur league in 1945 and was divided into four South German regions. Since then, the league has evolved and expanded to include teams from all over Bavaria. In 2008, the league adopted a new divisional structure that saw the addition of two divisions: the Nordbayernliga and Südbayernliga. This allowed the league to be more organized and provided more competitive matchups between teams.
The Bayernliga also includes teams from Austria. In 2009, the league merged with the Austrian Regional League, creating a unified competition for both countries. This allowed teams from both countries to compete at a higher level and increased the overall quality of the league’s matches.
Competition Format
The Bayernliga consists of 18 teams that play against each other twice per season, once at home and once away. At the end of the season, the top four teams advance to the playoffs, where the winner is crowned champion. The teams that finish in fifth through twelfth place enter a relegation battle, and the bottom two teams are …