The Bundesliga has been around since 1963. Since then, thousands have played in Germany’s top-flight. Here are the 10 players to have played the most games in the top division.
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The man who is set to become Germany’s number one goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup moved into the top 10 all-time list in 2026. Baumann started his career at Freiburg and after nearly 150 first-team games, he joined Hoffenheim where he has become a club legend. He has played over 430 games for the club and is the current captain. *as of September 11, 2026
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There is hardly a position that Willi Neuberger did not play in during his 17 professional years with Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen, Wuppertal and Eintracht Frankfurt. His versatility was his trump card in the Bundesliga, but he only made two appearances for the national team. Neuberger had the most Bundesliga appearances before being overtaken by Klaus Fichtel in 1985.
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Immel made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17. He played 247 games for BVB and before moving to Stuttgart, where he won the Bundesliga in 1992. Immel was well on his way to catching up with Karl-Heinz Körbel as the player with the most Bundesliga appearances, but was benched by new Stuttgart coach Rolf Fringer in 1995. He finished his career at Manchester City.
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Whether for 1860 Munich, Cologne, Schalke or Bochum – Klaus Fischer always scored goals. Fischer’s 268 Bundesliga goals are second only to Gerd Müller (365). Fischer’s specialty was the overhead kick. Born in Bavaria, he had his best years at Schalke before they were relegated to the second division at the end of the 1980-81 season.
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Born in Czechoslovakia, Votava came to Germany with his family as a child in 1968, shortly before the Prague Spring. He learned his football with Borussia Dortmund’s youth program. Votava turned professional at the club in 1976. After three years at Atletico Madrid, he moved back to the Bundesliga in 1985 and joined Werder Bremen, where he won two league titles.
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Neuer made his Bundesliga debut back in 2006, aged just 20, replacing the injured Schalke goalkeeper Frank Rost. He quickly became the new No. 1 and after 156 games for the club, he joined Bayern Munich in 2011. After initial skepticism, he became a fan favorite and has won numerous trophies. He has been captain since 2017. At 40, injuries have reduced his starts. *as of September 11, 2026
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Klaus Fichtel, nicknamed “Tanne” (fir tree) because of his surname (Fichtel translates to spruce tree), was one thing above all: Reliable. At Schalke and Werder Bremen, he was one of the best defensive players in the Bundesliga. At 43 years, six months and three daysold, Fichtel was the oldest player ever to play in the Bundesliga when he retired in 1988.
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No goalkeeper has stood between the posts in the Bundesliga as often as Kahn. Only Neuer has won more titles as a keeper. Kahn started his career with Karlsruhe in 1987, but it was at Bayern Munich that he became a legend. There he won eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. He retired in 2008.
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His trademark was the “banana cross,” a bending cross curving towards the goal. Since Horst Hrubesch, a burly striker who was strong in the air, was usually the recipient at Hamburg, “Manni’ Kaltz” set up numerous goals. Thanks to his strong free-kick and penalty skills, he scored 76 times himself. The defender also scored six own goals. Kaltz won the Bundesliga three times with Hamburg.
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Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel joined Eintracht Frankfurt as a 17-year-old in 1972 and played his entire professional career for the club, scoring 45 goals before hanging up his boots in 1991. Over his two decades at Eintracht, Körbel won the German Cup four times and the UEFA Cup in 1980, however he never did manage to win the Bundesliga. He made six appearances for West Germany in the mid-1970s.
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