BUNDESLIGA 2024/25

After Bayer Leverkusen’s surprise title win last term, Bayern Munich will be desperate to return to the summit under Vincent Kompany

Words: Ed McCambridge 

FOUR FOUR TWO - Issue 368, Season Preview - August  2024

WHAT’S NEW?

It’s fresh faces aplenty in dugouts, even at Bundesliga giants. Bayern Munich took an age appointing Vincent Kompany – relegated from the Premier League with Burnley in May, and far from Die Roten’s first choice. Fans are unconvinced. Borussia Dortmund have promoted former midfield metronome Nuri Sahin, the assistant to Edin Terzic last term. The 35-year-old has a big job: BVB reached the Champions League final, but were a disappointing fifth in the Bundesliga. The losses of Marco Reus and Mats Hummels have shorn his squad of leadership. Elsewhere, Union Berlin are now led by former Mainz boss Bo Svensson after battling relegation last term. Freiburg waved goodbye to popular coach Christian Streich after 13 seasons and replaced him with 39-year-old assistant Julian Schuster. He knows the club, but could there possibly be bigger shoes to fill anywhere in the Black Forest? Second-tier champions St Pauli return to the top flight after a 13-year absence, finding themselves in a higher division than cross-town rivals Hamburg for the first time in their 114-year history. Coach Fabian Hurzeler left for Brighton, replaced by Alexander Blessin, formerly of Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. Joining the Kiezkickers in the Bundesliga are proper newbies Holstein Kiel, the 58th team to play in the Bundesliga and most northerly ever to do so.

THE BIG STORIES

Can Bayer Leverkusen defend their maiden Bundesliga crown, won unbeaten by a whopping 17 points? Gaffer Xabi Alonso spurned interest from Bayern and Liverpool to stay at the BayArena for another season and now faces a huge test of managerial mettle. Can he defy doubters by challenging for the Bundesliga again, while competing in the Champions League? Bayern are favourites, as per, to retake the throne and English football fans will watch with intrigue as Harry Kane, who won the European Golden Shoe with 36 league goals last campaign, attempts to bag the title at the second attempt.

KEY ARRIVALS

Bayern returned to the Premier League for their summer shop again this year, recruiting Joao Palhinha from Fulham for £47m, as well as making use of Michael Olise’s £50m release clause at Crystal Palace. The 22-year-old’s explosive pace and lethal end product should make light work of German defences. Dortmund bagged a bargain thanks to Serhou Guirassy’s £15m clause at Stuttgart. The Guinea international bagged 30 goals in 30 games in all competitions last term as Die Schwaben beat Bayern to second place and is the Bundesliga’s closest guarantee of goals after Kane.

SURPRISE POTENTIAL

In their first top-flight season, Heidenheim’s eighth-placed finish under Frank Schmidt (above) was just the latest miracle under the local hero’s guidance. Schmidt took charge in 2007, with Heidenheim a fourth-tier outfit, and has led them up through the divisions. Now, they’ll be playing in Europe in the Conference League. Where will he lead them next?

WATCH OUT FOR…

Vociferous support and ferocious protesting. German fan culture earns admiration for its politically charged, tradition-defending undertone. Whether its ticket prices, shady investors, UEFA scheduling or dubious sponsors (Dortmund and Bayern recently announced deals with an arms manufacturer and African state sportswasher) fans take nothing lying down. The Bundesliga stands alone in Europe’s top five leagues at giving fans a voice, thanks to its sacrosanct 50+1 rule, even if those battles are becoming hard to fight.