Bundesliga boss bullish over division's future

The Bundesliga could and should soon be the second strongest league in Europe, according to the chairman of the German Football League Christian Seifert.

From next season, Bundesliga clubs should be playing for four places in the Champions League rather than three as they are set to overtake Italy's Serie A in UEFA's five-year coefficients, but Seifert believes even the Spanish Primera Liga will soon be within the Bundesliga's reach.

"If we take a look at UEFA's five-year coefficients, then we see pleasing results for the Bundesliga recently," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

"If we consider our financial capabilities and the stability of our business model, then the aim of the Bundesliga in the long run has got to be second place behind the Premier League."

Germany currently lies fourth in the coefficients, but when the 2005-06 season is dropped from next season, that will take Germany above Italy, giving them an extra starting berth in the Champions League from the 2012-13 season.

Yet the Bundesliga could overtake Serie A already this term, should Inter's Champions League challenge stutter and Bayern Munich continue their push towards the final.

Hamburg and Wolfsburg are also flying the flag for Germany in the Europa League and they can pick up vital points to dislodge Serie A from third position and give the Bundesliga four places in Europe's elite club competition to play for from next season.

"We are getting more representatives lasting longer in the Europa League and Bundesliga sides are even going further in the Champions League more recently," added Seifert.

"That is different to the top nations who only have one or two big names in there."

But beyond the results on the field, Seifert praised the Bundesliga's financial strength which could be even more significant if UEFA pushes through plans for a greater surveillance and control of club finances in its competitions.

That is how, according to Seifert, the Bundesliga could even overtake the Primera Liga.

"We support UEFA's initiative for financial fair play," he added.

"The success of this initiative, whose aim is a controllable economic rationality among clubs, will decide the future of professional football in Europe."