CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Why are RB Leipzig not called Red Bull and what do the letters in their name actually stand for?
The Bundesliga club, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League, were forced to be creative with their name by the German soccer federation.
RB Leipzig have become one of the most prominent clubs in Europe, having now featured in the UEFA Champions League for the last six seasons. The Germans will try to upset serial winners Real Madrid in this year’s round of 16, with the first leg taking place at Red Bull Arena (or should that be RB Arena?) on Tuesday. Yet they are far from popular, especially in their homeland of Germany.
RB Leipzig - Real Madrid: Follow the live action here!
What team was RB Leipzig before?
Tradition reigns supreme when it comes to soccer on German soil, and RB Leipzig are the antithesis of that. The club has only existed since May 2009, when energy drink giants Red Bull purchased the playing rights of fifth-tier club SSV Markranstädt, finding an entry point into German soccer having already set up teams in the United States (New York Red Bulls), Austria (Red Bull Salzburg), Brazil (Red Bull Brasil, now Red Bull Bragantino) and Ghana (Red Bull Ghana, now defunct).
Why are RB Leipzig so hated in Germany?
With a few exceptions, clubs in Germany must adhere to “the 50+1 rule,” which means 50% of the commercial shares - plus one additional share - which operate most professional clubs belong to members of those clubs, who are often fans.
RB Leipzig do follow the regulations on paper, as 99% of the shares fall into that category. However, the club has made owning a share very difficult, with the few members who do having direct or indirect links to Red Bull. As a result, it is impossible for supporters to own part of the club or become a voting member, in stark contrast to many others in Germany.
That, the financial backing of a huge corporation, plus the feeling the club bought its way into the league structure rather than earned it, means RB Leipzig has become the most disliked club in Germany by fans of others, some of whom have organised protests - occasionally violent in nature - at matches between the teams.
What is the new name for RB Leipzig?
Although still refereed to by many as Red Bull Leipzig, ‘RB’ actually stands for RasenBallsport (German for “Lawn Ball Sports”) as the German soccer federation doesn’t allow clubs to be officially named after corporate entities. The unusual term RasenBallsport was chosen as a workaround, allowing Red Bull’s initials to remain at the forefront of the club’s identity. German teams have no such restrictions regarding their stadiums, with RB Leipzig playing at Red Bull Arena.
Has RB Leipzig won a trophy?
Backed by the financial power of Red Bull, the club had little difficulty in making their way through the German lower leagues, taking five seasons to progress from the fifth tier, where they started out, to 2. Bundesliga, the second division. They won promotion to the top flight at the second attempt and finish runners-up in their first season in 2016-17.
They have since featured in the Champions League in six of a possible seven seasons, with their best performance coming in 2019-20, when they reached the semi-finals.
RB Leipzig have won two major trophies in their short history, lifting the DFB Pokal (German Cup) in each of the last two seasons, while they also defeated Bayern Munich 3-0 to win the DFL Super Cup in August 2023.
Why does UEFA often refer to RB Leipzig as only ‘Leipzig’?
Like the German federation, UEFA also forbids participating clubs from being named after corporate entities. Although RB Leipzig are officially named RasenBallsport Leipzig, have a look around the UEFA website and social media and you’ll quickly see the club is generally refereed to as just ‘Leipzig’, other than in their official profile on the former.
This appears to be a move from European soccer’s governing body to distance itself further from anything Red Bull.
In addition, and unlike in Germany, UEFA don’t permit clubs participating in their competitions to name their stadiums after corporate entities, so Red Bell Arena becomes RB Arena for the Champions League (or Europa/Europa Conference Leagues) only.