Germany's Bundesliga clubs have shunned Turkey as a training camp destination in a short winter break this season for the domestic football league.
Fifteen of the 18 top-flight clubs are using the break for intensive preparations abroad, but the uncertain security situation in Turkey has led to a complete rethink.
More than a third of the clubs recently chose the Turkish Riviera - and especially the resort of Belek - as a winter training camp. This time, no club is travelling to Turkey, where conditions have always been regarded as perfect.
The trips were often organized by former Bundesliga goalkeeper Dieter Burdenski. The ex-professional hopes that security in Turkey after several terrorist attacks will change again "but if the terror goes on, it can have a longer-term impact."
Eleven clubs have now chosen the Iberian peninsula as the ideal training destination.
Although preparations for the restart begin beforehand with medical tests, official training resumes on January 2 for three clubs, Cologne, Ingolstadt and Werder Bremen, with the rest gradually following ahead of the season's resumption on January 20 when Freiburg play Bayern Munich.
As in the previous season, Cologne and Ingolstadt are both staying in Germany, along with Hoffenheim, who decided not to travel this year because of the shorter break.
Ten clubs are travelling to Spain, while promoted RB Leipzig - second behind Bayern in the table - are off to Portugal.
The preferred destination on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia is Marbella, where Borussia Dortmund, Augsburg, Mainz and Borussia Moenchengladbach under new coach Dieter Hecking are setting up camp.
Four teams, including champions Bayern Munich, are heading to Doha in Qatar, while Bayer Leverkusen will be in Orlando, Florida for a third successive time, with test matches planned against Argentinian side Estudiantes and Brazil's Atletico Mineiro.
By Morten Ritter
