Overview

• All 18 Bundesliga head coaches in a dpa survey picked Bayern Munich to win the 2025/26 title as rivals acknowledged the gap and their own transitions.
• The campaign begins Friday with Bayern hosting RB Leipzig, where new coach Ole Werner starts a reset after last season’s slide.
• Bayer Leverkusen face an XXL rebuild under Erik ten Hag after departures of Xabi Alonso and key figures Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Lukas Hradecky.
• Six clubs start with new head coaches: ten Hag (Leverkusen), Werner (Leipzig), Horst Steffen (Werder Bremen), Sandro Wagner (Augsburg), Paul Simonis (Wolfsburg) and Lukas Kwasniok (1. FC Köln).
• Commentary and official data highlight a continued talent drain to the Premier League and a revenue gap (€4.8bn Bundesliga vs €7.4bn Premier League) as Germany sits fourth in UEFA’s five‑year ranking.