As soon as the Christmas goose has been digested, the Bundesliga clubs have their eyes on the restart. It starts again on January 10th. Training in the sun is only possible for a very few people.
Joshua Kimmich and his colleagues had already gotten used to it: the luxury during the winter break. The Bavarians from Munich always went to Doha in Qatar in January to prepare for the next football year in summer temperatures and dignified luxury accommodation. But this time nothing comes of it: Vincent Kompany instead asks his professionals to train on Säbener Straße in sleet.
Brackel instead of Marbella
And at Borussia Dortmund it’s also this time: Brackel instead of Marbella. The Bundesliga is spending the first days of 2025 in an unusually homely manner. The time for a training camp is “simply too short,” Bayern sports director Max Eberl recently explained. Things continue for Munich on January 11th, with BVB opening the 16th matchday a day earlier – on Friday evening with the top game against the resurgent double winner Bayer Leverkusen.
Then and on the next two days the matches of the 16th matchday take place. The 18 Bundesliga teams don’t have much time to rest afterwards, as an English week follows with games on January 14th and 15th, which concludes the first half of the season. This season, the so-called “autumn champion” will be crowned in the middle of winter.
15 teams remain at home
In view of the winter break, which was compressed by the European Championships and the Olympics, 15 Bundesliga coaches are asking for the start of training on familiar ground. Including Steffen Baumgart. 20 years after his departure as a player at Union Berlin, the 52-year-old will start his mission on January 2nd to get the club back on track.
| club | Start of training | Test matches |
|---|---|---|
Bayern Munich | January 2nd | January 6th RB Salzburg |
Bayer Leverkusen | January 2nd | January 5th RW Oberhausen |
Eintracht Frankfurt | January 2nd | January 5th Mainz 05 |
RB Leipzig | January 2nd | – |
1. FSV Mainz 05 | January 2nd | January 5th Eintracht Frankfurt |
Borussia Dortmund | January 2nd | – |
Werder Bremen | January 2nd | January 5th Twente Enschede |
Bor M’gladbach | January 2nd | January 5th NEC Nijmegen |
SC Freiburg | January 2nd (Sotogrande/Spain) | – |
VfB Stuttgart | January 2nd | January 5th Ajax Amsterdam |
VfL Wolfsburg | January 2nd (Almancil/Portugal) | – |
Union Berlin | January 2nd | January 5th Holstein Kiel |
FC Augsburg | January 2nd | January 6th TSG Hoffenheim |
FC St Pauli | December 31st | January 5th Entry Braunschweig |
TSG Hoffenheim | January 2nd | January 6th FC Augsburg |
FC Heidenheim | January 1st (Algorfa/Spain) | – |
Holstein Kiel | January 2nd | January 5th Union Berlin |
VfL Bochum | January 2nd | January 5th Wuppertaler SV, Heracles Almelo |
Only Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and Freiburg in the south
Things recently looked even worse at 1. FC Heidenheim. After ten defeats from the last 13 competitive games and falling into the relegation zone, coach Frank Schmidt apparently had no desire for a lavish New Year’s Eve party – instead he felt the need for a change of atmosphere. The first session was on the program on New Year’s Day at 2 p.m. in the secluded Algorfa near the Costa Blanca.
Only FC St. Pauli started training earlier on December 31st. SC Freiburg is also moving to southern Spain, to Sotogrande in Andalusia. Otherwise only VfL Wolfsburg flies through Europe. The “Wolves” want to get the finishing touches for the new year in Almancil, Portugal.
February 15th: Bayern against Bayer
For everyone else, after Christmas goose and Christmas stollen in the gray everyday German training routine, it’s time to get into top shape before the hot phase of the season. Above all, the Bundesliga leader. However, Kane and Bayern are only four points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, and the direct duel is already scheduled for February 15th.
Transfer window open until February 3rd
By the way: The winter transfer window opens its doors on January 1, 2025. Bundesliga clubs can then sign new players until February 3rd.
However, players can still leave the Bundesliga after February 3rd. The dates of the transfer window of the target league are relevant here. In Italy (February 4th) and Turkey (February 11th), for example, changes are possible even later. In England, Spain and France it also ends on February 3rd.