The Greatest Central European Clubs of All-Time

Central European Club includes all club from Germany and Austria with additional Central European part of Switzerland.

German Football Championship was founded in 1903 following the establishment of German Football Association in 1900. It was the tournament system with seven region championship prior to knock-out round for national competition. Championship play was suspended twice; from 1915 to 1919 due to World War I and again from 1945 to 1947 due to World War II. Under the Third Reich era (1933 – 1945), top-flight German football was reorganized into 16 regional Gauligen with each of these leagues sending their champion to the national playoffs. In the war-time since 1939 to 1944, Austria was united with Germany in the Anschluss and the country's football competition became part of the German league structure as the Gauliga Ostmark.

In the post-war era, By 1948, a new first division league structure, the Oberligen was created, was divided into five regional championship. In 1949, East German national league was established after the separation of Germany. In 1963, West German national league was followed establishing as Bundesliga. In 1990, The Germany reunification led the combination between East and West German league finally.

German Cup was founded in 1935 as Tschammer-Pokal and it was competed until 1943 before suspend for a decade due to World War II. The cup was created again in 1953 as DFB-Pokal. FDGB-Pokal is East German Cup was started in 1949 until 1991 but there are three years during this period the cup was no competition in 1951,1953 and 1961.

Austrian Championship was founded in 1911 and had existed until 1923, was organized by the football association of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) which was made up only of clubs from the nation's capital of Vienna. Nevertheless, it is clear that all top clubs in Austria were from Vienna. The support evident show there is no club outside Vienna could win the league title until 1965. In 1925, Football Association of Vienna organized its first professional league, admitted clubs from the rest of Austria to participate. Even so, there are only 21 seasons they could beat Vienna’s club to win Austrian league titles. 

Austrian Cup was held in 1919 until the present and it was suspended during the World War II (1939 - 1945)

The Swiss amateur national championship was founded in 1897 as a play-off system before it was turned professional as Swiss Super League in 1933. Swiss Cup was first competed in 1926 and has played every years until the present.

20. Wiener Sport Club 

Nation : Austria, Year of Establishment : 1883
Stadium :  Sportklub-Paltz (8,700 Seats)
Seasons in Austria Championship : 77 from 105
All-Time Austria Championship Ranking : 4th
Austria Championship : WN (1-A, 2-P), RN (1-A, 6-P)
Austrian Cup : Winners (1) ,Runner-Up (6)
DFB-Pokal : SF (1)
European Cup  QF (2-A)
Mitropa Cup : RN (1)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Erich Holf (224 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Erich Holf
The Greatest Manager Ever : Erich Holf

Wiener Sport-Club is one of the Austrian capital Vienna's oldest athletics clubs. The club won their first Austrian league in 1922, and won their only Austrian Cup in the next year. Their best period is the late 1950s. In 1958, The club won Austrian league title and also made the impressive 7:0 victory over Juventus in European Champions Cup. Wiener Sport-Club had been a regular member in Austrian top tier since th league was established for almost eight decades before Two bankruptcies in the 1990s eventually led the team to slip into the lower leagues. The club won record the longest unbeaten in history of Austrian league with 41 between 1958 and 1960.

19. Red Bull Salzburg

Nation : Austria, Year of Establishment : 1933
Stadium :  Red Bull Arena (31,895 Seats)
Seasons in Austria Championship : 55 from 108
All-Time Austria Championship Ranking : 7th
Austria Championship: Winners(12-P),Runner-Up(4-P)
Austrian Cup : Winners (5) ,Runner-Up (4)
Austrian Double Champion : 3
UEFA Cup : RN (1-A), SF (1-B), R16 (1-B) 
European Cup : R16 (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Marc Janko (83 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Heimo Pfeifenberger
The Greatest Manager Ever : Otto Baric

FC Red Bull Salzburg is an Austrian association football club, based in Wals-Siezenheim, was founded on 13 September 1933 as SV Austria Salzburg. In 1950, the club was dissolved but in the same year, it was re-founded for the first time. The club was not a regular member of Austria league and mostly spent time in the second tier in the first half of 20th Century. Finally, Salzburg successfully reached their first finalist in the 1974 Austrian Cup. The club’s golden era was just visited in the middle 1990s. In 1994, It is the best year in history of the club in which they won their first national title in Austrian league and won UEFA cup runner-up in the same year. In the late 2000s, Salzburg won three Austrian league titles and it is their second golden age. Nevertheless, The club never won Austrian Cup even once time. It holds the record lowest goal conceding ratio in history of Austria league with 0.5 achieved in the 1993 - 1994 season.

18. Dynamo Dresden

Nation : East Germany, Year of Establishment : 1898

Stadium :  Glucksagen Stadion (32,066 Seats)

Seasons in DDR Oberliga : 31 from 40

Seasons in Bundesliga : 4 from 23

Seasons in 2.Bundesliga : 5
German Championship : WN (2)

All-Time DDR Oberliga Ranking : 3rd

DDR Oberliga : Winners (8), Runner-Up (7)

FDGB-Pokal : Winners (7), Runner-Up (4)

DFB=Pokal : WN (2), SF (1)

East German Double Champion : 3

UEFA Cup : SF (1-A), QF (2-A), R16 (2-A)

Cup Winners’ Cup :  QF (2)

European Cup : QF (3-A)

All-Time Top-Scorer :  Torsten Gutschow (149 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Hans-Jurgen Dorner

The Greatest Manager Ever : Eduard Geyer

SG Dynamo Dresden is the most successful club in history of East German football especially their performance in European competition. The club was traditionally succeed Dresdener SC, the best German clubs in the war-time and won the Central German football championship 6 times and Gauliga Sachen 6 times. Dynamo Dresden was founded as as part of SG Deutsche Volkspolizei Dresden and quickly established itself as a force in East German football, winning its first cup in 1952. However, the club lost many players due to dislike of communist leader and they finally relegated to the fourth tier. They recovered equally well from another relegation in 1968, and remained in the Oberliga from 1969 until its dissolution in 1991. During the 1970s, Dynamo established themselves as the best club in East Germany with five DDR-Oberliga titles with two double champions and it is their greatest era. However, Politics was involved again and the same problem was happened as the prior. Dynamo Dresden is the only club from DDR-Oberliga to ever play in German Bundesliga but they have mostly played in regional liga after then.

17. Hertha Berlin

Nation : East Germany, Year of Establishment : 1892
Stadium :  Olympic Stadium (74,500 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 33 from 53
Seasons in 2.Bundesliga : 16
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 13th
Bundesliga : WN (-), RN (1), 3rd (4)
German Championship : WN (2), RN (4), SF (2)
DFB-Pokal : WN (-) , RN (3), SF (3)
UEFA Cup : SF (1-A), QF (1-A), R16 (1-B)
European Cup :  R16 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Michael Preetz (84 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Arne Friedrich
The Greatest Manager Ever : George Kessler

Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892 is all-time greatest club from East Germany. The club was formed in 1892 as BFC Hertha 92. They win in the first Berlin championship final in 1905. Hertha merged with the well-heeled club Berliner Sport-Club to form Hertha Berliner Sport-Club in 1920. The team played German championship final in six consecutive seasons during the second half 1920s, but were only able to win two titles. Under the Third Reich era, The club won three Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg titles and was overhauled by a Nazi party member. After World War II, Hertha was re-formed late in 1945. Hertha was banned to play against East German clubs due to political reason and this led them not being one of the members in DDR-Oberliga. Instead, the club was one of the founding members in Bundesliga. In 1975, the club met their best place in Bundesliga as the runner-up and the 1970s is their best era in Bundesliga. Financial disaster effected the club to relegate to third tier in 1986 before return to the top flight finally, and won two DFB-Ligapokal in the early 2000s. In history, Hertha ever finished Bundesliga third place for four times.

16. Nuremberg

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1900

Stadium :  Fraken (48,553 Seats)

Seasons in Bundesliga : 31 from 53

Seasons in 2.Bundesliga : 20

All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 14th

Bundesliga : WN (-), RN (-), 3rd (-)

German Championship : WN (9), RN (3), SF (7)

DFB-Pokal : WN (4), RN (2), SF (7)

Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), European Cup : QF (1-A)

All-Time Top-Scorer :  Max Morlock (294 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Max Morlock

The Greatest Manager Ever : Widmayer

1. FC Nuremberg is the notable German club in the early era of German football, base in Bavaria. It was founded in 1900 by a group of young men who had gathered at the local pub called the "Burenhütte". After World War I, Nuremberg would gradually turn their success into dominance of the country's football. In the period from 1918 to 1922 the team would go unbeaten in 104 official matches and won four German Championships in the first half 1920s. The club still greatly performed in the middle 1930s. The post-war period began with the Club being integrated in the Oberliga Süd managed to win this league six times and met the very successful year in 1961 and 1962 leading the club to be one of the founding member in Bundesliga in 1963 and won their only title in 1968 and the golden age was gradually disappeared afterwards. Nuremburg relegated to play in second tier several times and never won any title until now.

15. FC Zurich

Nation :  Switzerland, Year of Establishment : 1896
Stadium :  Letzigund  (25,000 Seats)
Seasons in  Swiss League : 107 from 119
All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 5th
Swiss League : Winners (2-A,10-P), Runner-Up (6-P)
Swiss Cup : Winners (8) ,Runner-Up (1)
Swiss League Cup : Winner (1)
Swiss Double Champion : 2
UEFA Cup  : QF (1-A), R16 (1-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : QF (1)
European Cup Performance :  SF (2-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Fritz Künzli  (201 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Jakob Kuhn
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Friedhelm Konietzka

Fussballclub Zürich is the most successful Swiss club in European football. The club was founded in 1896 by former members of the three local clubs (FC Turicum, FC Viktoria, and FC Excelsior). Zürich won its first title in the Swiss amateur national championship in 1902. Between 1925 and 1960, Zürich were in the "wilderness years," devoid of success. The club struggled to keep in the top flight and first relegated from the Super League in 1934, playing in the Challenge League until 1941. The period of golden years was happened between the 1960s and the 1970s, FC Zurich totally won seven Swiss league titles, acquired their double champions twice and reaching to European semi-final twice. After declination for more than two decades, FC Zurich returned to their great status in the second half 2000s, won three league titles successfully.

14. Young Boys Bern

Nation :  Switzerland, Year of Establishment : 1898
Stadium :  Stade De Suisse  (32,000 Seats)
Seasons in Swiss League : 109 from 119
All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 3rd
Swiss League : Winners (6-A,5-P), Runner-Up (13)
Swiss Cup : Winners (6) ,Runner-Up (7)
Swiss League Cup : Winner (1)
Swiss Double Champion : 1
Cup Winners’ Cup : QF (1), European Cup : SF (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Eugen Maier  (237 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Eugen Meier
The Greatest Manager Ever : Albert Sing

Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 was founded in 1898 by students of University of Bern after hosting a game with the Basel Old Boys association. The club won its first Swiss amateur national championship in 1903 and finally won 6 times as a record tie with Grasshopper Zurich. The club met their best era during the second half 1950s, won four consecutive Swiss Super league titles which is a record and a double champion in 1958. and reach the 1959 European cup semi-final which is the highest successful in history of Swiss football in European competition. Afterwards, they have been overshadowed by other top-class Swiss clubs for eras until the present the club won only league title and a Swiss cup during the second half 80s. The BSC Young Boys developed financial difficulties, and since 1947 YB was relegated to the National League B for the first time in 1997. It holds the record lowest goals ratio in a Swiss league single season with 0.41 (9 goals in 22 games) achieved in the 1940 - 1941 season. 

13. FC Basel

Nation :  Switzerland
Year of Establishment : 1893
Stadium :  St-Jakob-Partk  (38,500 Seats)
Seasons in  Swiss League : 107 from 119
All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 4th
Swiss League : Winners (18-P), Runner-Up (6-P)
Swiss Cup : Winners (12) ,Runner-Up (13)
Swiss League Cup : Winner (1)
Swiss Double Champion : 6
UEFA Cup :  SF (1-B), QF (2-B)
European Cup :  QF (1-A), R16 (3-B), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Josef Hugi  (244 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Josef Hugi
The Greatest Manager Ever :  Helmut Benthaus

Fussball Club Basel 1893 is the second greatest club in history of Swiss professional league. The club was started by an advertisement in 1893 that appeared in the Basler national newspaper requesting that a football team be formed. FC Basel did not have much of an early footballing success and never won any title in Swiss amateur football. The club won their first trophy in 1933 Swiss Cup and first won the league title in 1953. They were successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the title a total of seven times between 1967 and 1980. Basel achieved their highest point in Europe in 1974 European Cup Quarter-Final. The golden age was created during the 2000s, won five league titles and five cups include three double champs. In overall history, the club totally won 5 Swiss double champions and holds the record number of consecutive home games unbeaten.

12. Bayer Leverkusen

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1904
Stadium :  Commerzbank Arena (30,210 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 37 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 11th
Bundesliga : WN (-), RN (4), 3rd (4)
German Championship : WN (-), RN (-), SF (-)
DFB-Pokal : WN (1) , RN (2), SF (4)
UEFA Cup  : WN (1-A), SF(1-A), QF(2-B), R16 (1-A,2-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup  : QF (1)
European Cup : RN (1-B), R-16 (5-B), R24 (2-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Ulf Kirsten (182 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Ulf Kirsten
The Greatest Manager Ever : Christoph Daum

Bayer 04 Leverkusen is one of the leading German clubs in the modern era, base in North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1904 after the Friedrich Bayer agree to support the new football club to his employees. In the pre-war era, Leverkusen could be promoted from 4th Division to 2nd Division but never played in the first tier of German football. They made their first appearance in upper league play in 1951, in the Oberliga West and played there until 1956 but relegated several times until they was successfully promoted to Bundesliga for the first time in 1979. Despite the club never finished in top tree in the league, They surprisingly won UEFA Cup trophy in 1988 and it is the greatest trophy in history of the club. The golden era came true in the second half 1990s, finished runner-up in Bundesliga three times and it is their best year ever in 2002 after being vice-champion in three major competition in one season consist of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champion League.

11. Eintracht Franfurt

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1899
Stadium :  Commerzbank Arena (52,300 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 47 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 10th
Bundesliga : WN (-), RN (-), 3rd (4)
German Championship : WN (4), RN (4), SF (4)
DFB-Pokal : WN (4) , RN (2), SF 95)
UEFA Cup :  WN(1-A), SF(1-A), QF(3-A), R16 (2-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (2)
European Cup  : Runner-Up (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Bernd Holzenbein (201 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Jurgen Grabowski
The Greatest Manager Ever : Paul Oßwald

“The Eagles” Eintracht Frankfurt is among the top German clubs in history of European football. The club was founded in 1899 as the merger between Frankfurter  Viktoria von and Frankfurter Kickers in 1911. The club won Nordkreis-Liga for three times in which led them to automatically qualify in Southern German Championship and finally won two titles. Under the Third Reich era, the club played first division football in the Gauliga Südwest and winning their division in 1938. After World War II they played in Oberliga Süd and could win German Championship in 1959, and is the first German club to reach European Cup finalist in 1960.  In 1963, Frankfurt is one of the founding members in Bundesliga and played for thirty-three seasons finishing in the top half of the table more often than not. Their best Bundesliga performances were four third-place finish, most of it were achieved in the early 1990s. Nevertheless, Frankfurt could win the 1980 UEFA cup which is the most honor trophy in history of the club.

10. Kaiserslautern

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1900
Stadium :  Rhein Energie (48,500 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 44 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 9th
Bundesliga : Winners (2), Runner-Up (1), 3rd (2)
German Championship : WN (2), RN (3), SF (1)
DFB-Pokal : WN (2) , RN (5), SF (4)
UEFA Cup : SF (1-A, 1-B), QF (3-A), R16 (1-A)
European Cup  : QF (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Fritz Walter  (380 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Fritz Walter
The Greatest Manager Ever : Karl-Heinz Feldkump

1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern is the German club base in Rhineland-Palatinate, originally founded in 1900 as the merger between Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern to be FC 1900 and there are many mergers after then until finish in the current name in 1932. The club played in regional liga since 1908 until the early 1930s. After wards, they spent bouncing up and down between the Bezirksliga and the upper level Gauliga Südwest. After World War II, It was their golden age leading by German legend “Fritz Walter” who is regarded as the most important personality to successfully renovate the prestige of country in World Cup 1954. Kaiserslautern won a German Championship include two runner-ups in that period. The club was one of the founding members in Bundeliga. In the 1990s, It is their second best era with  two Bundesliga Champions and two DFB-Pokal. Especially, the club built the victory in history of German football as the only one to win the first tier title after get promotion from the second tier.

9. Borussia Monchengladbach

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1900
Stadium :  Borussia Park (54,067 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 49 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 6th
Bundesliga : WN (5), RN (2), 3rd (6)
German Championship : WN (-), RN (-), SF (-)
DFB-Pokal : WN (3), RN (2), SF (5)
UEFA Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup : WN (2-A), RN (2-A), SF (1-A), R16 (1-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (1)
European Champion's Cup : RN (1-A), SF (1-A), QF (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Jupp Heynckes (218 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Gunter Netzer
The Greatest Manager Ever : Hennes Weisweiler

‘The Foals” Borussia Mönchengladbach is one of the most famous clubs in Germany. The club's forerunner was a loose association of young men as FC Germania München-Gladbach from the city's Eicken district in 1899, and was formally established in next year. Gladbach played in the Gauliga Niederrhein under the Third Reich era before moving up to play in Oberliga West in the post-war era. In 1960 the club won its first major honor in German Cup. They first participated in Bundesliga in 1965 and the golden decade was happened within a short time. The club won all five Bundesliga titles during the 1970s and four appearances in UEFA Cup final. Brief to the second half of decade, Gladbach is one of the best clubs in Europe, won two UEFA Cup titles and a finalist in European Cup. In 1978 they beat Borussia Dortmund 12–0, the biggest winning margin ever in league history. The club gradually down from the prime and they have faced the hard time to be a regular member in Bundesliga in the 2000s.

8. Grasshopper Zurich

Nation :  Switzerland, Year of Establishment : 1886

Stadium :  Letzigrund  (25,000 Seats)

Seasons in  Swiss League : 112 from 119

All-Time Swiss League Ranking : 1st

Swiss League : Winners (7-A,20-P), Runner-Up (17-P)

Swiss Cup : Winners (19) ,Runner-Up (13)

Swiss League Cup : Winner (2)
Swiss Double Champion : 8

UEFA Cup :  SF (1-A), QF (1-A), R16 (1-A)

Cup Winners’ Cup  : QF (1)

European Cup : QF (2-A), R16 (2-A)

All-Time Top-Scorer : Alfred Bickel  (202 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Severino Minelli

The Greatest Manager Ever :  Karl Rappan

Grasshopper Club Zürich is by far the greatest club in history of Swiss football, holds record the most winners in Swiss Championship and Swiss Super League including Swiss Cup and also the most Swiss double champions with 8. The club was founded in 1886 by Tom E. Griffith, an English student. Grasshopper won the first season of Swiss national championship in 1898. Grasshopper had to withdraw from the Swiss championships in 1909 because they lacked a suitable playing ground and were not able to join again until 1916. In overall history, the club could dominate the league in two eras in the first half of 40s and of 80s. The most failure era is the 1960s, there was no trophy for consecutive 15 years. The best result of that period is second place in 1968. The 1990s is their best decade after won five league titles. Nevertheless, Grasshopper has not been much successful in Europe as the most recognizable representative from Switzerland. It holds the record highest goals ratio and goal differences ratio in a single season of Swiss top league with 4.15 (108 goals in 26 games) and 2.65 (69 diffs in 26 games) achieved in the 1953 - 1954 season and the 1942 - 1943 season, respectively.

7. VFB Stuttgart

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1893
Stadium :  Mercedes-Benz Arena (41,000 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 51 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 4th
Bundesliga : WN (3), RN (3), 3rd (4)
German Championship : WN (2), RN (1), SF (2)
DFB-Pokal : WN (3), RN (3), SF (4)
UEFA Cup  :  Runner-Up (1-A), SF (2-A), R16 (3-A,3-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup  : Runner-Up (1)
European Cup : UCL-R16 (1)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Karl Allgöwer (164 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Karl-Heinz Forster
The Greatest Manger Ever : George Wurzer

“The Swabians” Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V was formed in 1912 merger of predecessor sides Stuttgarter FV and Kronen-Club Cannstatt following a meeting in the Concordia hotel in Cannstatt, base in  the capital of Baden-Württemberg. The club played in regional liga through 1910s and 1920s before played in the Gauliga Württemberg under The Third Reich era and enjoyed considerable success there with winning five titles. After the war VfB continued to play first division football in the Oberliga Süd, capturing titles there and the first half 50s was their glory period, won two German Championship and a German Cup. Stuttgart was one of the members to make up the original Bundesliga. After two seasons in 2.Bundesliga in the mid 70s, The late 1970s to the first half 1980s was their real golden era, finished place in top three for five seasons in six with one champion. The club met their most successful event in the European competition after finish UEFA Cup vice-champion in 1989. It holds the record most consecutive game without goal concede in Bundesliga with 9 between 2003 and 2004.

6. FC Cologne

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1948
Stadium :  Rhein Energie (50,374 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 45 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 8th
Bundesliga : WN (2), RN (5), 3rd (2)
German Championship : WN (1), RN (2), SF (2)
DFB-Pokal : WN (4) ,RN (6), SF (3)
German Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup : RN (1-A), SF (5-A), QF (2-A), R16 (6-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
European Champion's Cup  : SF (1-A), QF (1-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Hannes Lohr ( 166 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Wolfgang Overath
The Greatest Manager Ever : Hennes Weisweiler

“The Billy Goats”  1. FC Köln is one of the famous football clubs in Germany based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07. The two clubs had played in regional division. After the union of two predecessor sides, the club won their first divisional championship in Oberliga West in 1954. The golden age was visited in the first half 60’s in which is the time Bundesliga was being established, won two German Champions and three runner-ups. In the 1970s and 1980s, they was still the leading club in Germany, finish 2nd place for four seasons include one champion and the highlight is focused on European football. They was a regular member in UEFA Cup deep rounds and met their most successful in 1979 European Cup semi finalist and 1986 UEFA Cup runner-up. However, the club began tend down since the second half 90s until the present, relegated to 2.Buddesliga so many times.

5. Schalke 04 

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1904
Stadium :  Veltins Arena (61,673 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 48 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 7th
Bundesliga : WN (-), RN (6), 3rd (4)
German Championship : WN (7), RN (3), SF (4)
DFB-Pokal : WN (5) , RN (7), SF (7)
German Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup : W์N(1-A), SF(1-B), QF(2-B), R16(1-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1), QF (1)
European Champion's Cup : SF(1-B), QF(1-A), R16 (3-B), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Klaus Fischer (182 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Ernest Kuzorra
The Greatest Manager Ever : Huub Stevens

Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 is the greatest German club in the pre-war era, base in North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1904 as Westfalia Schalke by a group of high school students, was re-established as an independent club in 1919. They won their first Western German championship in 1929 and eventually won four titles. Schalke played in the Gauliga Westfalen under the Third Reich era and dominated German football until the war-time with seven German Champions and they is the only club to win double champions before era of Bundesliga, built the record unbeaten in the home game for six seasons. The club was one of the members in the first season of Bundesliga. The club met their trouble era in 80s, relegated to second tier for 3 times before back to win their only European title in the 1997 UEFA Cup. Schalke was the leading club in Germany during the 2000s, finish runner-ups 4 times as their second best era. They have never won any Bundesliga title but still hold the second most appearances in German Cup final.

4. Werder Bremen

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1899
Stadium :  Weserstadion (42,358 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga :   52 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 2nd
Bundesliga : WN (4), RN (7), 3rd (5)
German Championship : WN (-), RN (-), SF (2)
DFB-Pokal : WN (6) , RN (3), SF (10)
German Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup : RN (1-B), SF (2-A,1-B), QF (1-B), R16 (2-A,1-B)
Cup Winners’ Cup Performance : WN (1), QF (1)
European Champion's Cup : QF(2-A), UCL-R16 (2), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Marco Bode (101 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Rudi Voller
The Greatest Manager Ever : Otto Rehagel

“The River Islanders” SV Werder Bremen is one of the three clubs in history of Bundesliga, was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize of sports equipment to set them on their way. Bremen founded themselves in the Gauliga Niedersachsen under the Third Reich and won three titles. The club didn’t success in National Championship until they managed their first German Cup winner in 1961, and go on being a founding member in Bundesliga befor win the title in next season. The golden age of the club was happened when they acquired the champion once time include 3 runner-ups in the eighties and won title four seasons in row during the first half 90s, consist of a Bundesliga, a Cup Winners’ Cup and two DFB-Pokal. In 2004, the club won the victory German double champions, is one of the only three clubs to win in history of German football.

3. Borussia Dortmund

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1909
Stadium :  Veltins Arena (80,552 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 49 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 5th
Bundesliga : Winners (5), Runner-Up (4), 3rd (5)
German Championship : Winner (3), Runner-Up (2), SF (1)
DFB-Pokal : Winners (3) , Runner-Up (4), SF (4)
German Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup  : RN (1-A, 1-B), SF (1-A), QF (1-A), R16 (2-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup  : WN (1)
European Champion's Cup : WN(1-A), RN(1-B), SF(1-A,1-B), 
QF (2-A,1-B), R16 (2-B), R24 (1-B)
Intercontinental Cup : Winner (1997)
All-Time Top-Scorer :   Manfred Burgsmuller (135 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Matthias Sammer
The Greatest Manager Ever : Ottmar Hitzfeld

‘The Borussians” Ballspielverein Borussia (BVB) Dortmund is one of the most successful German club in European competition, base in North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded on 19 December 1909 by a group of young men want to have independent football team from the Church’s sponsor. Dortmund played in Gauliga Westfalen under the Third Reich era before dominate the Oberliga West in the post-war era. The club claimed its first national title in 1956. In 1963 Borussia Dortmund won the last final before the Bundesliga started. They become the first German team to win a European title after won Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966. The club fall to 2.Bundesliga and stayed down for four seasons in row during the first half 70’s. The club’s golden era was the middle to the late 90s, won two Bundesliga titles and participated in UEFA Champion League almost every year, won the title in 1997. Dortmund is one of the three German clubs to reach all three major European competition final matches. In 2012, the club successfully won the first ever double champion in its history.

2. Hamburge SV

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1887
Stadium :  Alianza Arena (57,274 Seats)
Seasons in Bundesliga : 53 (All), All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 3rd
Bundesliga : WN (3), RN (5), 3rd (3)
German Championship : Winner (5), Runner-Up (3), SF (8)
DFB-Pokal : WN (3), RN (3), SF (8)
European Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup : RN(1-A), SF(1-A, 2-B), QF(3-A), R16(4-A)
Cup Winners’ Cup  : WN (1), RN (1)
European Champion's Cup  : WN (1-A), RN (1-A), SF (1-A), R24 (1-B)
All-Time Top-Scorer :  Uwe Seeler (404 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Uwe Seeler
The Greatest Manager Ever : Ernst Happel

‘Red Shorts” Hamburger Sport-Verein is the only club to play all seasons in history of Bundesliga, closest to relegate in the 2014 relegation play-off but finally survive by away goal rule. Its roots as far back as the merger of Der Hohenfelder and Wandsbek-Marienthaler in 1887 to form Germania zu Hamburg and merged with Hamburger FC and Falke Eppendorf to from the current club in 1919. Three years later, the club could win their first German Championship and went on the champions more two times. They absolutely dominate North German football Championship during the 20’s to early 30’s with winning ten titles. They played in Gauliga Nordmark under the Third Reich era and Gauliga Hamburg in the war-time, totally won five titles, and played in Oberliga-Nord during the post-war era, won 15 titles in 16 and won a German Champion during that period. HSV is a member in the first season of Bundesliga. In the first half 80s, Hamburg dominated German football with two Bundesliga Champions and three runner-ups, was one of the best clubs in Europe as they won a European Cup include a runner-up and  in European Cup and UEFA Cup and won the record longest unbeaten in Bundesliga with 36 between 1982 and 1983. In the 1990s to 2000s, the club won only title in DFB-Ligapokal.

1. Bayern Munich

Nation : West Germany, Year of Establishment : 1900

Stadium :  Alianza Arena (69,901 Seats)

Seasons in Bundesliga : 51 from 53
All-Time Bundesliga Ranking : 1st

Bundesliga : WN (24), RN (11), 3rd (5)

German Championship : WN (1), RN (-), SF (1)

DFB-Pokal : WN (16) , RN (2), SF (6)

German Triple Champion : 3, German Double Champion : 10

European Double Champion, European Triple Champiom : 2013 

UEFA Cup Performance: 1st(1-A), SF(2-A,1-B), QF(2-A), R-16(2-A)

Cup Winners’ Cup Performance : WN (1), SF(3), QF(1)

European Champion's Cup : WN (3-A, 2-B), RN (2-A, 2-B), 

SF (4-A, 3-B), QF (4-A, 5-B), R16 (2-B)

All-Time Top-Scorer  :  Gerd Muller (532 Goals)

The Greatest Player Ever :  Franz Beckenbauer

The Greatest Manager Ever : Ottmar Hitzfeld

“The Bavarians” Bayern Munich is by far the greatest German and Central European club of all-time, is the most winners in Bundesliga, place 1st in all-time Bundesliga table and the most successful German club in Europe, is one of the four clubs in history to win all three major European titles. The club was founded in 1900 by eleven players led by Franz John. Bayern won their first region title in 1926 South German Championship before successes winning their first German Championship in 1932. In The Third Reich and war-time eras, the club was effected by the politics and even fall the status as professional club. After the war Bayern became a member of the Oberliga Süd. Bayern was recovered and first participated in Bundesliga since it had been established for two seasons. Then, the great history was started, Bayern dominate Europe in the middle 70s as they won European Cup three times in row, won the record longest unbeaten home games in league with 73 between 1970 and 1974. Bayern ever won Bundesliga consecutive three times for three periods. This is clear for their sign of dominance. They have won eight German double champions, five of these were achieved in the 2000s. It holds the Bundesliga record most consecutive games win with 18 in the 2013 - 2014 season, longest unbeaten with 51 games between 2012 and 2014, highest number of goals per season with 101 in the 1971 - 1972 season, the lowest goal concede per season with 18, most clean sheets with 21 and the best goal difference with 93 in the 2012 - 2013 season, the earliest to win Bundesliga Champion with 7 games left in the 2013 - 2014 season. Bayern also holds the record longest home undefeated run in UEFA Champion league with 31 between 1998 and 2003. The club reached all major treble finalists three times as the most in Europe as it won domestic double and lost in UEFA Champion League Final in both 1999 and 2010 aside from the treble in 2013.

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Honorable Mention

Dynamo Berlin

Nation : East Germany, Year of Establishment : 1953
Stadium :  Dynamo Sport Forum (12,400 Seats)
Seasons in DDR Oberliga : 35 from 40
Seasons in Bundesliga : None
Seasons in 2.Bundesliga : None
All-Time DDR Oberliga Ranking : 1st
DDR Oberliga : Winners (10), Runner-Up (4)
FDGB-Pokal : Winners (3), Runner-Up (6)
East German Double Champion : 1
UEFA Cup  : R16 (1-A), Cup Winners’ Cup : SF (1)
European Cup  : QF (2-A)
All-Time Top-Scorer : Rainer Ernst  (86 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :  Andreas Thom
The Greatest Manager Ever : Jurgen Bogs

“The Wine Reds” Berliner FC Dynamo is the most successful club in the former East German football league with most league titles. A predecessor side to the current-day club was established in 1949 as Sportgemeinde Deutsche Volkspolizei Berlin. In 1953 this team assumed the place of SC Volkspolizei Potsdam in the DDR-Liga. The Potsdam and Berlin sides were later formally merged and after then played as part of the larger Sportvereinigung Dynamo. They first advanced to the DDR-oberliga in 1957. The club was re-established in 1966 as the current name, and absolutely dominated the league through the 1980s with winning consecutive ten league titles but there are many scandalous stories for this achievement. After German re-unification in 1990, the club has played in the regional liga.

Statistics By Nation

Germany : 13

Austria : 4

Switzerland : 4

The Greatest Central European Clubs of Eras

Early 1920s : Nuremburg

Late 1920s :  Rapid Vienna

Early 1930s :  First Vienna

Late 1930s :   Schalke 04

Early 1940s :  Dresdner SC

Late 1940s :  Kaiserslautern

Early 1950s : Kaiserslautern

Late 1950s :  Dortmund

Early 1960s : Cologne

Late 1960s :  Bayern

Early 1970s : Bayern

Late 1970s :  Monchengladbach

Early 1980s :  Hamburg

Late 1980s :   Bayern

Early 1990s :  Dortmund

Late 1990s :   Bayern

Early 2000s :  Bayern

Late 2000s :  Bayern