If like many US sports fans, you have finally realized that soccer is here to stay, you may be keen to find out more about the sport. For many, that means turning your attention to Europe where the game is treated like a religion in many countries. Most people are aware of the top competitions such as the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga but if that’s where your knowledge ends – and you are keen to dig a bit deeper – we would recommend turning your eyes towards the German Bundesliga.
Why watch the Bundesliga?
Germany’s top division is currently ranked third in UEFA’s country coefficients which are based on the results of each country’s clubs in the top European competitions (UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League) over the five previous seasons. That puts it ahead of Italy and France but behind leaders Spain and second-ranked England. The league is known for its entertaining football and as a proving ground for many of the game’s most innovative coaches.
Which are the biggest teams and best players?
The league’s most successful team is Bayern Munich. They have won their domestic title 29 times and have been crowned European champions five times. Only Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Liverpool have won more. Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg are both one-time European champions, while Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen have all been European Cup finalists.
The current star players of the league are Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry and Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich; Jadon Sancho, Erling Haland and Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund; Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen and Timo Werner of RB Liepzig.
Who are the best American players?
The Bundesliga is a hotbed of soccer talent and features plenty of American players for you to follow. There are more than 30 players currently employed by German teams and some are first-team regulars at top teams.
Versatile midfielder Weston McKennie is a regular at Schalke. The 21-year-old Texan is developing into one of the league’s best midfielders. If he can stay fit and injury-free, he could achieve great things in his career. He has already made 18 appearances for the USA men’s national team.
Gio Reyna is the son of former US men’s international Claudio. Aged just 17, he has already featured in the first team for Borussia Dortmund, the second favorites for the league title, behind the mighty Bayern Munich, in the latest Bundesliga odds. He even featured against Paris Saint-Germain in the team’s 2019/20 Champions League campaign which ended at the Round of 16.
New Yorker Tyler Adams plays for RB Leipzig but missed much of the first half of the 2019/20 season through injury. The 21-year-old returned during the winter before another injury ruled him out for a few weeks. When fit, he is a regular in Julian Nagelsmann’s side who have been transformed into serious title challengers.
Other US players
Other American players to look out for include 20-year-old Josh Sargent, who plays as a striker for Werder Bremen; 25-year-old Zack Steffen, who was 2018 MLS goalkeeper of the year and plays as a goalkeeper at Fortuna Düsseldorf (on loan from Manchester City), and US international John Brooks, who plays as a defender for Wolfsburg and has played seven seasons in Germany’s top flight.
So, if you want to enjoy some great soccer in a league with plenty of US interest, the Bundesliga should be your first choice. You may even be tempted to adopt a team to cheer on.
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