Bundesliga Trophy 'Meisterschale' Expanded
- Meisterschale Expansion: The Bundesliga trophy, the 'Meisterschale', has been expanded to accommodate the names of the next 30 years of champions.
- Redesign Details: In April 2026, the DFL commissioned an update by Koch & Bergfeld, replacing the outer ring with a larger one featuring five bands and re-engraving champions since 1982; the trophy now measures 56 cm in diameter and weighs over 11 kilograms.
- Historical Context: Designed in 1949 to replace the missing 'Victoria' statue, the Meisterschale has been expanded twice before, in 1981 and 2009, to add more space for engraving champions' names.
The Bundesliga trophy, known as the 'Meisterschale', has been officially expanded. After the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, the shield had run out of space for new engravings. The league has now added more rows, providing enough room to record the next 30 years of champions.
Bundesliga Trophy 'Meisterschale' Expanded
The Bundesliga trophy has been restructured to make space for the next 30 winners.pic.twitter.com/BmeB9YLNkQ
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) April 17, 2026
In April 2026, the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) commissioned the silver manufacturer Koch & Bergfeld to update the trophy. The previous outer ring was replaced with a larger one to create the necessary space.
The new outer ring features a total of five bands, which is two more than the previous version. As part of this process, all German champions since 1982 were re-engraved onto the new section. The trophy was completely disassembled and restored for the redesign. It now has a diameter of 56 cm and weighs over 11 kilograms.
Bayern Munich will be the first team to have their name engraved on the newly added space after winning the 2025-26 Bundesliga title.
History of the Meisterschale
The current trophy was designed and crafted in 1949 by art professor Elisabeth Treskow at the Cologne School of Arts and Crafts. It was created to replace the original "Victoria" statue, which went missing during World War II. The names of all German champions dating back to 1903 are recorded on the trophy.
Before this recent update, the Meisterschale had been expanded twice:
- 1981: A silver ring was added, fitted with engraving plates and five tourmaline cabochons set in gold.
- 2009: Five larger engraving plates were added before the final matchday of the 2008-09 season to accommodate more names.
What do you think of the updated Meisterschale design and the decision to expand the current shield rather than create a new trophy? Let us know in the comments below.
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