FC Bayern Munich has once again been crowned the most popular football club in Germany, marking the ninth consecutive time the team has held this title. This latest recognition is derived from a study conducted by management consultancy SLC, which evaluated the popularity of all 18 Bundesliga clubs based on more than 30,000 responses.
Surprisingly, Bayern achieved this status without securing any titles during the 2023/24 season, illustrating their sustained appeal among fans. The club scored 298 out of a possible 324 points, placing them significantly higher than all contenders, including Borussia Dortmund at 279 points and Bayer Leverkusen at 237.
The SLC study measures popularity through various categories, combining objective metrics like fan clubs, television reach, stadium attendance, away match attractiveness, social media engagement, membership numbers, and sponsorship visibility with subjective evaluations including satisfaction, appeal, professionalism, and overall image.
Throughout the ranking, Bayern landed among the top three clubs for 15 out of 18 criteria, dominating six of the seven objective metrics. The results of the study reflect both the club's historical success and its ability to maintain fan loyalty, even during seasons without major accolades.
Following Bayern, Borussia Dortmund has consistently held the top spot among clubs for league popularity, making them second overall. Bayer Leverkusen achieved the most significant leap from the previous year, moving from twelfth place to third place, attributed mainly to their double victory and improved management professionalism.
The top five includes VfB Stuttgart, finishing fourth with 211 points, and SC Freiburg rounding off the list at fifth with 210 points. Both clubs demonstrated substantial improvements over the last season.
Despite their popularity surge, not all teams benefited from the study’s findings. Union Berlin, which had previously ranked fourth, saw a dramatic drop to the eleventh position, correlatively experiencing struggles on the pitch. Similarly, 1. FC Köln fell from eighth to thirteenth.
The study also highlighted the rise of new entrants such as Heidenheim, which made its debut ranking this year, illustrating the dynamic nature of the Bundesliga’s competitive spirit.
Further down the list, FC Augsburg managed to slightly improve its standing, escaping relegation placements, whereas TSG 1899 Hoffenheim again found itself at the bottom, just above SV Darmstadt, which similarly ended the season last on the actual Bundesliga table.
This annual survey showcases how closely club performance and fan engagement relate; success breeds popularity, as seen with Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, whereas disappointing seasons have negative cascading effects for teams like Union Berlin and FC Köln.
It's worth noting the phenomena of fan loyalty and engagement; even when faced with adversity, FC Bayern Munich reported significant membership growth, with numbers leaping from 316,000 to 382,000 within the year, emphasizing their stronghold on the fan base.
With the Bundesliga aiming to maintain its stature as one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, such studies not only bring fan sentiments to light but also help clubs gauge their standing among supporters. Bayern’s dominance, even without title wins, showcases its brand resilience and enduring appeal across Germany.
The complete popularity ranking from the study reflects how the league's teams measure up on and off the field, with notable shifts indicating the ever-changing dynamics of football fandom.
