In a historic turn of events, Bayer Leverkusen has finally secured their first-ever Bundesliga title after a staggering 120 years. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, the team accomplished this momentous feat with an unbeaten season, shattering records along the way.
The path to glory has been an arduous one for Leverkusen, with heartbreaking near-misses haunting the club’s past. Four times runners-up in just six seasons around the turn of the century, Leverkusen experienced the agonizing taste of defeat on multiple occasions. In 2000, they faltered in their final game, needing only a draw against the underdog SpVgg Unterhaching, who had no footballing reputation to speak of but were better known for their bobsleigh team. Two years later, Leverkusen crumbled under pressure, losing two out of their last three games and surrendering the league title to Borussia Dortmund.
The club garnered nicknames like ‘Vizekusen’ (Secondkusen) and “Neverkusen” due to their recurring second-place finishes, fueling doubts that they would ever grasp the elusive championship trophy.
However, the 2023-2024 season has seen a miraculous turnaround for Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, took the reins in October 2022, inheriting a team languishing in the relegation zone. It was an uphill battle from the start, as Leverkusen endured their second-worst start to a campaign since 1979. Having never managed a senior team before, Alonso’s appointment raised eyebrows. But his impact has been nothing short of spectacular.
After 18 months of persistent hard work and strategic brilliance, Leverkusen secured an astonishing 43 consecutive unbeaten games in all competitions. The team remained unbeaten throughout the league season, amassing an impressive 79 points with five matches remaining. Their jubilant supporters erupted with joy as Leverkusen thrashed Werder Bremen 5-0 to seal the title prematurely.
Fans flooded the pitch to celebrate this extraordinary achievement, knowing that their club had not only broken Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the league but had also finally laid to rest the ghosts of their past near-misses. With a commanding 16-point lead over Bayern, Leverkusen proved their superiority in emphatic fashion.
Xabi Alonso’s outstanding management has not only delivered the league title but has also set Leverkusen on the path to a potential treble. The team is set to contest the DFB Pokal final against Kaiserslautern, and with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, they are also strong contenders in the Europa League quarter-finals, having established their dominance over West Ham. Should Leverkusen conquer both competitions, it would undoubtedly solidify their status as one of the most remarkable teams in European football history.
Bayer Leverkusen’s triumph has brought an end to Bayern Munich’s remarkable streak of 11 consecutive league titles. It serves as a testament to Xabi Alonso’s tactical acumen, leadership, and his ability to extract the full potential from a talented and determined squad.
As the jubilant Bayer Leverkusen fans revel in this historic moment, the club can now look towards a future brimming with ambition and confidence. The Bundesliga title has finally found its way to Leverkusen after 120 years, forever etching this unforgettable achievement in the annals of footballing history.
