Success story at the second attempt: The history of the DFL
More than 37 years had passed since the launch of the Bundesliga when German professional football made a far-reaching decision. At a hotel near Frankfurt, a General Assembly of the 36 clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 convened on 18 December 2000 for a vote that marks a watershed moment in the history of German football: the Bundesliga became independent.
Until then, the League Committee had been responsible for the constantly growing requirements of German professional football and its clubs. At the DFB, this responsibility rested with League Director Wilfried Straub and League Secretary Wolfgang Holzhäuser – bound to the instructions of the League Committee, which was filled with representatives of the clubs and was one of the bodies to which the clubs elected their representatives at the meetings of the DFB Bundestag. At the DFB, the marketing of TV rights and the increasingly detailed licensing process were handled, match schedules were prepared – still by hand – and the competitions to decide the winners of the Supercup and the league cup as well as the “Hallen-Masters” indoor tournament were set in motion and organised.
Alongside the growing economic strength and increasing public and media interest in German club football, the realisation that the professional clubs in Germany also needed a separate organisation grew.
Unanimous “yes” from the DFB Bundestag
A historic moment came on 30 September 2000, in the DFB’s centenary year, when all 202 delegates passed the structural reform of the association with a major change in its statutes at an extraordinary meeting of the DFB Bundestag in Mainz. The unanimous “yes” to the new Ligaverband, which was renamed DFL e.V. in 2016, created the conditions for professional football to act of its own accord while continuing to work together with the DFB.
“Never before has a reform of the DFB been driven forward with such energy and commitment,” said Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder. “We have adopted a unique and pioneering model for European conditions.”
The founding of the Ligaverband followed on 18 December 2000, with Werner Hackmann, former Hamburg Senator of the Interior and Chairman of Hamburger SV, elected as its first President. Although the changes were not yet confirmed by the DFB Bundestag, the Ligaverband had already assumed responsibility for the licensing process for the 2001-02 season.
From the DFB to its own address in 2007
To conduct its business operations, the Ligaverband founded DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH on 1 July 2001. Wilfried Straub took the helm as CEO of the limited company, which was entered in the commercial register on 9 April 2001. Heribert Bruchhagen became the board member responsible for match operations. In the beginning, 20 DFL employees moved into offices at the DFB headquarters in Otto-Fleck-Schneise in Frankfurt, where the DFL found offices of its own in the city centre in May 2007.
Christian Seifert succeeds Wilfried Straub – Reinhard Rauball new League President
On 1 July 2005, Christian Seifert became CEO, succeeding Wilfried Straub, who handed over the reins after almost 40 years at the DFB and DFL.
The death of Werner Hackmann on 28 January 2007 proved a sad turning point. Until then, the former SPD politician had shaped the still incipient Ligaverband as President and Chairman of the DFL Supervisory Board.
Following Werner Hackmann’s death, Wolfgang Holzhäuser (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) took over as acting head of the Ligaverband until the regular elections were held. On 6 August 2007, Dr Reinhard Rauball was elected as the new League President and was confirmed unanimously at each of the three subsequent General Assemblies, most recently on 24 August 2016 for a further legislative period lasting until 2019.
By the time of the DFL e.V. General Assembly in August 2019, the role of DFL President was no longer required. Dr Reinhard Rauball had already announced at an early stage that he would not run for a post at the DFL again. In June 2019, the clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 unanimously passed a structural reform of DFL e.V. at a Members Assembly. The new model was introduced at the General Assembly on 21 August 2019. From that time, Christian Seifert simultaneously served as both the CEO of DFL GmbH and Speaker of the Executive Committee of DFL e.V. and coordinated its work.
On 1 January 2022, Donata Hopfen took over as CEO before Axel Hellmann and Oliver Leki were appointed as CEOs of DFL GmbH on an interim basis on 8 December 2022.
Dr. Marc Lenz and Dr. Steffen Merkel began as joint-CEOs of DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH on July 1, 2023.