Good to Know

In more than 40 years of Bundesliga membership, Bayer Leverkusen never won the German championship but developed a habit of finishing second — earning the nickname "Vizekusen." That much is known. What fewer people know is that over the past 30 years, Bayer Leverkusen have distinguished themselves through three particular traits in player recruitment.

"Brazilians — com muito gosto": No other club has brought more Brazilian professionals to the Bundesliga than Bayer 04 Leverkusen. It all began in 1987 with the signing of Tita. The midfielder, born Mílton Queiroz da Paixão, was instrumental in Leverkusen's 1988 UEFA Cup triumph. He was followed by future World Cup winners Jorginho, Paulo Sergio and Lucio, among others.

"Super Ossis": Bayer were faster than the competition after the opening of the inner-German border in 1989. Wolfgang Karnath, Bayer stalwart and later player agent for Matthias Sammer, recruited East German superstar Andreas Thom in November 1989 at the World Cup qualifier Austria vs. the GDR (3-0) in Vienna. Thom became the first GDR player in the Bundesliga — a coup that announced Bayer's ambitions.

"Old men": Veteran stars under the Bayer cross. Rudi Völler (1994–1996), Bernd Schuster (1993–1996) and Michael Ballack (2012/13 season) all played in the autumn of their careers for the Werkself. "Everything felt a bit grey, almost loveless," Völler later recalled in 11 FREUNDE, describing his first visit to the Haberland-Stadion on November 15, 1980 with 1860 München.