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Bayernliga
Map of Germany: Bavarian football association highlighted
Organising body Bavarian Football Association
Founded 1945
Country Germany
State Bavaria
Divisions 2
Number of teams 36 (18 teams of each division)
Level on pyramid Level 5
Promotion to Regionalliga Bayern
Relegation to
  • Landesliga Nordost
  • Landesliga Nordwest
  • Landesliga Mitte
  • Landesliga Südost
  • Landesliga Südwest
Domestic cup(s) Bavarian Cup
Current champions North: VfB Eichstätt
South: FC Memmingen
(2024–25)

The Bayernliga is a top amateur football league in the German state of Bavaria. It is the second-highest league in Bavaria, just below the Regionalliga Bayern. In the overall German football league system, the Bayernliga is the fifth level.

For many years, the Bayernliga was a single league. However, since the 2012–13 season, it has been split into two parts: a northern division and a southern division. This change helped reduce travel for teams and create more local rivalries. Below the Bayernliga, there are five Landesligas, which are regional leagues that feed into the Bayernliga.

History of the Bayernliga

Early Years: 1945–1950

The league started in 1945, right after World War II. It was called the Landesliga Bayern and had nine clubs. At that time, it was the second-highest football league in Germany, just under the Oberliga Süd.

In its second year, the league grew and split into two groups: North Bavaria and South Bavaria. The winners of these two groups would play each other to decide the Bavarian champion. In 1948, the league became one big group again.

Amateurliga Bayern: 1950–1953

In 1950, the league changed its name to Amateurliga Bayern. It became the third level of German football.

Splitting Up Again: 1953–1963

The league split into northern and southern groups again in 1953. This was done to help teams save money on travel. It also meant that two Bavarian teams could try to get promoted to the next level, instead of just one.

Back to One League: 1963–1978

In 1963, a new top league called the Bundesliga was created in Germany. This caused other leagues to shift. The Amateurliga Bayern became one league again and remained the third level.

Three regional Landesligas were created below the Bayernliga. Their champions could get promoted directly to the Bayernliga. These Landesligas covered different parts of Bavaria:

  • Landesliga Bayern-Nord (for northern Bavaria)
  • Landesliga Mitte (for central Bavaria)
  • Landesliga Süd (for southern Bavaria)

Amateur-Oberliga Bayern: 1978–1994

In 1978, the league changed its name again to Amateur-Oberliga Bayern. For a short time, the Bavarian champion could get promoted directly to the next level. Later, a special playoff round was brought back for promotion.

Oberliga Bayern: 1994–2012

In 1994, new leagues called Regionalligas were introduced. This meant the Bayernliga dropped to the fourth level of German football. It was simply called Oberliga Bayern.

The Bavarian champion could once again get promoted directly to the Regionalliga. In 2008, another big change happened when the 3. Liga was created. This made the Bayernliga drop to the fifth level, where it is today.

Bayernliga Nord and Süd: From 2012

In 2010, it was decided that the Regionalligas would expand. A new Regionalliga Bayern was created in 2012. This led to big changes for the Bayernliga.

The Bayernliga was split into two divisions: Bayernliga Nord (North) and Bayernliga Süd (South). This was similar to how the league was organized from 1953 to 1963. This new setup helped make the league more local and exciting for fans.

League Timeline

Here's how the Bayernliga changed its name and level over the years:

Years Name Tier Promotion to
1945–46 Landesliga Bayern II Oberliga Süd
1946–48 Landesliga Südbayern Landesliga Nordbayern II Oberliga Süd
1948–50 Landesliga Bayern II Oberliga Süd
1950–53 Amateurliga Bayern III 2. Oberliga Süd
1953–63 Amateurliga Südbayern Amateurliga Nordbayern III 2nd Oberliga Süd
1963–74 Amateurliga Bayern III Regionalliga Süd
1974–78 Amateurliga Bayern III 2. Bundesliga Süd
1978–81 Amateur-Oberliga Bayern III 2nd Bundesliga Süd
1981–94 Amateur-Oberliga Bayern III 2nd Bundesliga
1994–2008 Oberliga Bayern IV Regionalliga Süd
2008–12 Oberliga Bayern V Regionalliga Süd
2012– Bayernliga Süd Bayernliga Nord V Regionalliga Bayern

Bayernliga Champions

Champions from 1945–1963

In its early years, the Bayernliga sometimes had one division and sometimes two. When it had two, the North and South champions would play a final match.

Season Club
1945–46 1. FC Bamberg
Season North South Final
1946–47 FC Bayern Hof FC Wacker München 3–4 & 0–4
1947–48 1. FC Bamberg BC Augsburg 1–1 & 1–4
  • Bavarian champions are in bold.
Season Club
1948–49 Jahn Regensburg
1949–50 1. FC Bamberg
1950–51 VfL Neustadt
1951–52 FC Amberg
1952–53 ATS Kulmbach

From 1953 to 1963, the league was split into North and South again. A Bavarian final was held from 1956 onwards.

Season North South Final
1953–54 VfL Neustadt SpVgg Weiden N/A
1954–55 VfB Helmbrechts FC Penzberg N/A
1955–56 VfB Bayreuth ESV Ingolstadt 2–1 & 0–3 & 1–0 aet
1956–57 1. FC Bamberg FC Penzberg 3–0 & 0–2
1957–58 1. FC Bamberg FC Wacker München 4–0 & 2–3
1958–59 SpVgg Bayreuth TSV Schwaben Augsburg 2–0 & 0–0
1959–60 FC Lichtenfels TSV Schwaben Augsburg 3–5
1960–61 1. FC Haßfurt TSV 1860 München II not held
1961–62 SpVgg Büchenbach ESV Ingolstadt 1–1 & 0–1
1962–63 1. FC Bamberg TSV Straubing 4–3 & 3–6 & 1–5
  • Bavarian champions are in bold.

Champions from 1963–2012

From 1963 to 2012, the Bayernliga was a single division. The league champion often had the chance to be promoted directly.

  • Promoted teams are in bold.
  • 1 FC Wacker München did not take promotion, so Würzburger FV was promoted instead.
  • 2 1. FC Haßfurt did not take promotion, so MTV Ingolstadt was promoted instead.
  • 3 SpVgg Bayreuth was not allowed to join the Regionalliga.
  • 4 FC Ismaning did not take promotion, so FC Ingolstadt II was promoted instead.

Champions from 2012–Present

Since 2012, the Bayernliga has been divided into a northern and a southern group.

Season North South
2012–13 FC Schweinfurt 05 SV Schalding-Heining
2013–14 SpVgg Bayreuth BC Aichach 5
2014–15 Viktoria Aschaffenburg TSV Rain am Lech
2015–16 SV Seligenporten VfR Garching
2016–17 VfB Eichstätt SV Pullach6
2017–18 Viktoria Aschaffenburg SV Heimstetten
2018–19 TSV Aubstadt Türkgücü München
2019–207 No champions, season was stopped and later extended to 2021
2020–217 SC Eltersdorf FC Pipinsried
2021–22 DJK Vilzing SpVgg Hankofen-Hailing
2022–23 FC Eintracht Bamberg SV Schalding-Heining
2023–24 SpVgg Hankofen-Hailing SV Erlbach
2024–25 VfB Eichstätt FC Memmingen
  • Promoted teams are in bold.
  • 5 BC Aichach did not take promotion, so VfR Garching was promoted instead.
  • 6 SV Pullach did not take promotion, so FC Unterföhring was promoted instead.
  • 7 The 2019–20 season was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was later finished in 2021, and the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

Recent Top Scorers

These players scored the most goals in the league since 2005:

Bayernliga until 2012

Main article: List of Bayernliga top scorers
Year Player Club Goals
2005–06 Petr Stoilov 1. FC Bad Kötzting 17
2006–07 Peter Heyer 1. FC Eintracht Bamberg 27
2007–08 Peter Heyer 1 18
Sebastian Knüttel TSV Großbardorf 18
Mijo Stijepic TSG Thannhausen 18
2008–09 Thomas Karg VfL Frohnlach 24
2009–10 Christian Doll TSV Aindling 21
2010–11 Benjamin Neunteufel SV Schalding-Heining 25
2011–12 Cem Ekinci SpVgg Bayern Hof 22
  • 1 Peter Heyer scored 19 goals in 2007–08, but one goal was not officially counted due to a team rule violation.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bayernliga para niños

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