Bayernliga


The Bayernliga is the highest amateur football league and the second highest football league in the state of Bavaria and the Bavarian football league system. It is one of fourteen Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fourth tier of the league system, until the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 the third tier.
From the 2012–13 season onwards, the league has been divided once more into a northern and a southern division, having previously placed in single division format since 1963. The league sits directly under the Regionalliga Bayern and above the Landesligas, which were expanded in number from three to five at the end of the 2011–12 season.

Overview

Landesliga Bayern: 1945–1950

The league was formed in 1945 from nine clubs as the Landesliga Bayern, being then the second tier of the German football league system, right below the Oberliga Süd in the re-formed state of Bavaria, then part of the US occupation zone in Germany. The league run then in parallel with the Landesligas of Hessen, Württemberg and Nordbaden.
The league expanded in its second season to two divisions of eleven teams each, the Staffel Nordbayern and Staffel Südbayern with the league champions playing each other for the Bavarian championship and promotion. The year after, the leagues went to thirteen teams each.
In 1948, the league was reunited in one group of sixteen teams with the top-two clubs gaining promotion. The 1949–50 season was run on fourteen clubs with the top-five clubs gaining promotion to the new 2. Oberliga Süd.

Amateurliga Bayern: 1950–1953

The league was renamed Amateurliga Bayern, a name it would carry until 1978, and was now the third tier of the league system, below the 2nd Oberliga. It consisted of sixteen clubs in its first season, then went to eighteen and later nineteen.

Amateurliga Nordbayern and Südbayern: 1953–1963

In 1953, the league split into a northern and a southern group again, each with fifteen clubs. The main reasons for this was to reduce travel-costs and time, but also to create two regional champions in Bavaria which both could take part in the promotion rounds to the 2nd Oberliga instead of only one. Being the largest of the southern German federations, Bavaria felt disadvantaged by the fact that only its champion was permitted to take part in the promotion rounds.
The number of teams in the two leagues kept fluctuating and sometimes clubs from central Bavaria were moved between divisions to balance out the strength.
In those years up to 1963, the leagues below the Bayernliga were the 2. Amateurligas, which there was supposed to be seven of, according to the number of Bezirke in Bavaria. However, some, like Oberbayern, split their 2nd Amateurliga in more than one division.

Amateurliga Bayern: 1963–1978

In 1963, with the introduction of the Bundesliga, the Oberliga Süd and 2nd Oberliga Süd were disbanded. The Amateurliga Bayern was reunited and now came under the Regionalliga Süd, the new second tier of the league system in the south. The Amateurliga retained its status as a tier three league.
Seven clubs from the northern and southern division each plus four from the 2nd Oberliga made up the newly reunited league in 1963. The league champion still had to compete for promotion with the winners of the other southern German amateur leagues while the bottom three teams were relegated. Below the Bayernliga, three Landesligas were established and remain there to this date, with their champions directly promoted:
The league remained unchanged throughout the coming years, until 1974, when the Regionalliga was replaced by the 2. Bundesliga Süd. For the Bayernliga, this still meant little change, the winner still had to play-off for promotion to the new league.

Amateur-Oberliga Bayern: 1978–1994

The year 1978 saw a reformation of the highest Amateurligas in Germany, their number was halved from sixteen to eight, making direct promotion for the southern champions possible for the first time. The Amateurligas were also renamed Amateur-Oberligas, which was generally shortened to AOL or, more commonly, just Oberliga. In the south, this meant the Bayernliga now run parallel to the Amateur-Oberligas of Hessen, Baden-Württemberg and Südwest.
Direct promotion for the southern champions only lasted two seasons however, 1978–79 and 1979–80. In 1981, the 2. Bundesliga was united to one single division, making it necessary for the Oberliga champions to have a promotion round again. In this season, the Bavarian FA also introduced a promotion round for the Landesligas, meaning the three second placed teams in those leagues played the fourth-last Bayernliga team for one more spot in the league. In some seasons, additional promotion spots were available, for example when the Bayernliga champion managed to move up to the 2nd Bundesliga.

Oberliga Bayern: 1994–2012

After having been a tier three league for 44 seasons, the re-introduction of the Regionalligas, now at this level, made the Bayernliga slip to tier four. It also adopted a new, shorter name, being simply called Oberliga Bayern now, because the highest amateur league was now the Regionalliga.
The six teams with the best overall record over the last three seasons in the Bayernliga, or above, gained entry to the new Regionalliga Süd, these being:
This fact also allowed a greater number of clubs then usually to move up from the Landesliga.
But above all, for the first time since 1980, the Bavarian champion was directly promoted again, now to the Regionalliga. The one exception for this was the year 2000, when the number of Regionalligas was reduced from four to two.
The year 2008 saw another league system change. The 3. Liga was introduced to slide between 2nd Bundesliga and Regionalligas. For the Bayernliga this meant a further fall, to tier five now. However, its best four teams of this season gained entry to the Regionalliga, providing their finances complied with the leagues regulations, those clubs being:
The Bayernliga champion, SpVgg Bayreuth, was refused a Regionalliga licence, Bamberg took its spot instead. Due to the Sportfreunde Siegen also being denied a licence, another Bavarian team was promoted to the Regionalliga, this being the reserve team of Unterhaching.

Bayernliga Nord and Süd: from 2012

In October 2010, another reform of the Regionalligas was decided upon. The number of leagues were now to be expanded to five, with the defunct Regionalliga Nordost to be reestablished and a Regionalliga Bayern to be established. Also, the Regionalliga West would lose the clubs from the south west to a new league, formed out of those clubs and the clubs from Regionalliga Süd without the Bavarian teams. The new system came into operation in the 2012–13 season. It was also decided to limit the number of reserve teams per Regionalliga to seven.
The Bavarian football federation carried out drastic changes to the league system from 2012 onwards. With the already decided introduction of the Regionalliga Bayern from 2012–13, it placed two Bayernligas below the new league as the new fifth tier of the German league system. Below those, five Landesligas instead of the existing three were set which are geographically divided to limit travel and increase the number of local derbies. This model was adopted in late April 2011. With the league reform at the end of the 2011–12 season, the Bezirksoberligas were also disbanded. Instead, the Bezirksligas took the place of the Bezirksoberligas once more below the Landesligas, a system already in place from 1963 to 1988.
While it was originally thought that the Regionalliga Bayern would carry the name Bayernliga, it was later revealed that the current Bayernliga would have that honour, making the Bayernliga a divided league as it had been from 1953 to 1963. The new qualification mode would see all current Bavarian Regionalliga teams qualify for the new league as well as the top nine of the Bayernliga. Additionally, the teams placed 10th to 15th entered a promotion round with, nominally the six Landesliga champions and runners-up for three more spots in the new league, but dependent on licensing for the new league. Fluctuations of this formula were however also possible if a Bavarian club was promoted to or relegated from the 3rd Liga.
The losers of the Regionalliga qualification round, nine clubs, and the Landesliga clubs placed third to eighth, 18 clubs, all entered the new Bayernligas, as did the winners of the Bayernliga promotion round between the Landesliga clubs placed eleventh to 15th and the Bezirksoberliga champions. The Landesliga clubs that failed to qualify for the Bayernligas remained in one of the five new Landesligas; there was no relegation to the Bezirksligas.

League timeline

The league went through the following timeline of name changes, format and position in the league system:

Champions of the Bayernliga

1945–1953

In 1945–46, the Landesliga Bayern was played as a single division, in 1946–47 and 1947–48 it was played in two regional divisions with a home-and-away final to determine the Bavarian champion. From 1948 to 1953, it was played as a single division again:
SeasonClub
1945–461. FC Bamberg

SeasonNorthSouthFinal
1946–47FC Bayern HofFC Wacker München3–4 & 0–4
1947–481. FC BambergBC Augsburg1–1 & 1–4

SeasonClub
1948–49Jahn Regensburg
1949–501. FC Bamberg
1950–51VfL Neustadt
1951–52FC Amberg
1952–53ATS Kulmbach

1953–1963

From 1953 to 1963, the Bayernliga was divided into a northern and a southern group again. From 1956 onwards, a Bavarian final was held again:
SeasonNorthSouthFinal
1953–54VfL NeustadtSpVgg WeidenN/A
1954–55VfB HelmbrechtsFC PenzbergN/A
1955–56VfB BayreuthESV Ingolstadt2–1 & 0–3 & 1–0 aet
1956–571. FC BambergFC Penzberg3–0 & 0–2
1957–581. FC BambergFC Wacker München4–0 & 2–3
1958–59SpVgg BayreuthTSV Schwaben Augsburg2–0 & 0–0
1959–60FC LichtenfelsTSV Schwaben Augsburg3–5
1960–611. FC HaßfurtTSV 1860 München IInot held
1961–62SpVgg BüchenbachESV Ingolstadt1–1 & 0–1
1962–631. FC BambergTSV Straubing4–3 & 3–6 & 1–5

From 1963 onwards, the Bayernliga was always held as a single division. From 1963 to 1980 and from 1995 onwards, the league champion had the right to direct promotion. In 1974 and 1981, no promotion was available and from 1982 to 1994, the league champion had to participate in the promotion round. When the league champion declined, as has happened twice, the runners-up was promoted/qualified for the promotion round:
SeasonClub
1963–64FC Wacker München
1964–65SpVgg Weiden
1965–66BC Augsburg
1966–67SSV Jahn Regensburg
1967–68ESV Ingolstadt
1968–69SpVgg Bayreuth
1969–70FC Wacker München
1970–71SpVgg Bayreuth
1971–72FC Wacker München
1972–73FC Augsburg
1973–74ASV Herzogenaurach
1974–75SSV Jahn Regensburg
1975–76FC Wacker München 1
1976–77Kickers Würzburg
1977–781. FC Haßfurt 2
1978–79ESV Ingolstadt
1979–80FC Augsburg

SeasonClub
1980–81MTV Ingolstadt
1981–82FC Augsburg
1982–83SpVgg Unterhaching
1983–84TSV 1860 München
1984–85SpVgg Bayreuth
1985–86SpVgg Landshut
1986–87SpVgg Bayreuth
1987–88SpVgg Unterhaching
1988–89SpVgg Unterhaching
1989–90FC Schweinfurt 05
1990–91TSV 1860 München
1991–92SpVgg Unterhaching
1992–93TSV 1860 München
1993–94FC Augsburg
1994–95Wacker Burghausen
1995–96SC Weismain

SeasonClub
1996–97TSV 1860 München II
1997–98FC Schweinfurt 05
1998–99SV Lohhof
1999–2000SSV Jahn Regensburg
2000–01SpVgg Ansbach
2001–02FC Augsburg
2002–031. SC Feucht
2003–04TSV 1860 München II
2004–05SpVgg Bayreuth
2005–06FC Ingolstadt 04
2006–07SSV Jahn Regensburg
2007–08SpVgg Bayreuth 3
2008–09SpVgg Weiden
2009–10FC Memmingen
2010–11FC Ismaning 4
2011–12TSV 1860 Rosenheim

2012–present

Since 2012 the Bayernliga has once more been divided into a northern and a southern group:
The top scorers in the league since 2005:

Bayernliga until 2012

YearPlayerClubGoals
2005–06Petr Stoilov1. FC Bad Kötzting17
2006–07Peter Heyer1. FC Eintracht Bamberg27
2007–08Peter Heyer 11. FC Eintracht Bamberg18
2007–08Sebastian KnüttelTSV Großbardorf18
2007–08Mijo StijepicTSG Thannhausen18
2008–09Thomas KargVfL Frohnlach24
2009–10Christian DollTSV Aindling21
2010–11Benjamin NeunteufelSV Schalding-Heining25
2011–12Cem EkinciSpVgg Bayern Hof22

Bayernliga North

Bayernliga South

The complete list of clubs and placings in the Bayernliga since the league was sub-divided into two divisions:

Bayern Nord 2012–present

The complete list of clubs and placings in the Bayernliga Nord since the league was sub-divided into two divisions:
Club131415161718192021
1. FC Schweinfurt 051RRRRRRRR
SpVgg Bayreuth61RRRRRRR
VfB Eichstätt941321RRRR
Viktoria AschaffenburgRR1R21RRR
TSV Aubstadt8298321RR
DJK Vilzing5126751x
SC EltersdorfR8776462x
SV SeligenportenRRR1RR53x
TSV Großbardorf36544844x
DJK Ammerthal71214812125x
FC Eintracht BambergRRR186x
ATSV Erlangen137x
Würzburger FV510111212338x
ASV Cham9x
SpVgg Ansbach151371110x
DJK Gebenbach5211x
SpVgg Bayern HofRR83R10712x
DJK Don Bosco Bamberg16111113813x
TSV Abtswind1014x
SSV Jahn Regensburg II5761316315x
1. FC Sand1797151415x
TSV Karlburg16x
FC Viktoria Kahl17x
Würzburger Kickers II9119
ASV Vach15
FSV Erlangen-Bruck131416916
SpVgg Jahn Forchheim23316617
ASV Neumarkt12175818
SpVgg SV Weiden5451414
1. FC Schweinfurt 05 II16
SV Erlenbach910141617
FC Amberg442R1018
1. SC Feucht1015
Alemannia Haibach101612617
VfL FrohnlachR11131718
ASV Burglengenfeld15
TSV Neudrossenfeld17
SV Memmelsdorf91318
SpVgg Selbitz1115
ASV Hollfeld1418
1. FC Trogen15
TSV Kleinrinderfeld18

Bayern Süd 2012–present

The complete list of clubs and placings in the Bayernliga Süd since the league was sub-divided into two divisions:
Club131415161718192021
SV Schalding-Heining1RRRRRRRR
VfR Garching2R1RRRRR
TSV 1860 RosenheimRR103RRRRR
VfB Eichstätt941321RRRR
SV HeimstettenRRR671RRR
Türkgücü-Ataspor München1R3L
TSV Rain am LechRR1R1032RR
FC Pipinsried33103RR1x
DJK Vilzing5126751x
TSV 1880 Wasserburg2x
FC Deisenhofen3x
FC Ingolstadt 04 IIRRRRRRR4x
TSV Schwabmünchen14814144685x
TSV Kottern181112476x
TSV 1860 Munich IIRRRRR14107x
SV Kirchanschöring7816118x
FC IsmaningR181111159x
TSV Dachau128510610x
SV Donaustauf11x
Türkspor Augsburg12x
TSV Landsberg815151813x
SpVgg Hankofen-Hailing1076913131314x
SSV Jahn Regensburg II5761316315x
SV Pullach52212416x
TSV Schwaben Augsburg51217x
TSV 1861 Nördlingen918x
1. FC Sonthofen8121149914
FC Unterföhring710952R16
TuS Holzkirchen1217
ASV Neumarkt12175818
SB Chiemgau Traunstein15
BCF Wolfratshausen13167131417
TSV Kornburg19
TSV Bogen641617
FC Gundelfingen18
SV Erlbach17
SpVgg Ruhmannsfelden18
1. FC Bad Kötzting15
SpVgg Landshut41416
SV Raisting1117
SB/DJK Rosenheim121318
SpVgg Unterhaching II6919
BC Aichach31
SV Wacker Burghausen II215
FC Affing1117
TSV Aindling15
SpVgg GW Deggendorf16
TSV Gersthofen17
SC Fürstenfeldbruck19

Spectators

Bayernliga until 2012

The leagues attendance figures nowadays are a far cry from what they were in the 1980s, when TSV 1860 München played in the league and attracted, for Amateur Oberliga levels, huge crowds.
SeasonLeague averageBest supported clubClub average
1980–81758FC Schweinfurt 051,410
1981–829521. FC Bamberg2,510
1982–831,473TSV 1860 Munich6,844
1983–841,982TSV 1860 Munich7,273
1984–851,480TSV 1860 Munich3,410
1985–861,780TSV 1860 Munich7,350
1986–871,680TSV 1860 Munich7,310
1987–881,390TSV 1860 Munich4,120
1988–891,680TSV 1860 Munich6,240
1989–901,880TSV 1860 Munich8,380
1990–91
1991–921,038SpVgg Fürth2,528
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96593SC Weismain1,574
1996–97539FC Bayern Hof1,238
1997–98540FC Schweinfurt 051,300
1998–99437FC Bayern Hof1,038
1999–2000589Jahn Regensburg1,649
2000–01519FC Bayern Hof1,184
2001–02498FC Bayern Hof995
2002–03419FC Bayern Hof982
2003–04467SpVgg Bayreuth881
2004–05425SpVgg Bayreuth1,033
2005–06396FC Ingolstadt 04815
2006–076831. FC Eintracht Bamberg2,716
2007–08704FC Memmingen1,631
2008–09632FC Schweinfurt 051,215
2009–10471FC Memmingen1,365
2010–11460FC Schweinfurt 05913
2011–12428SpVgg Bayern Hof770

Bayernliga North

Bayernliga South

League records 1963–2012

The league records in regards to points, wins, losses and goals for the clubs in the league are:
RecordTeamSeasonNumber
Most winsSpVgg Unterhaching1982–8331
Fewest winsSpVgg Kaufbeuren1969–702
Fewest winsKickers Würzburg1990–912
Fewest winsSpVgg Plattling1991–922
Fewest winsFC Passau1999–20002
Most defeatsFC Starnberg2000–0128
Fewest defeatsTSV 1860 München1990–910
Most goals forSC Feucht2002–03107
Fewest goals forSC Fürstenfeldbruck1987–8820
Most goals againstSpVgg Plattling1966–67123
Fewest goals againstTSV 1860 München1990–9121
Highest points SpVgg Unterhaching1982–8365
Lowest points SC Fürstenfeldbruck1987–888
Highest points FC Augsburg2001–0289
Lowest points FC Passau1999–200015