The Bundesliga Is Born

OTD E0270 — 28 Jul 1962: At the DFB Bundestag in Dortmund, German football votes to create the Bundesliga. This episode traces German football from the DFB’s founding in 1900, the regional Oberliga system, resistance to professionalism, Central Europe’s tactical lead, Nazi-era sport, post-war division, the 1954 Miracle of Bern, the triggers for reform, Franz Kremer, Sepp Herberger and Hermann Neuberger, the 103–26 vote, the controversial selection of the first 16 clubs, Bayern and Gladbach missing out, and the long Bundesliga arc through Bayern, Gladbach, Hamburg, Dortmund, East-West reunification, 50+1, licensing and global tactical influence.Ideas: [email protected]