Good to Know
Bayer Leverkusen spent more than forty Bundesliga years
Bayer Leverkusen spent more than forty Bundesliga years never becoming German champions but often finishing second.
never becoming German champions but often finishing second. The nickname Vizekusen did not come out of nowhere. Yet there are many lesser-known facets too.
“Brazilians — com muito gosto”: no club brought
“Brazilians — com muito gosto”: no club brought more Brazilian footballers to the Bundesliga than Bayer Leverkusen.
more Brazilian footballers to the Bundesliga than Bayer Leverkusen. The works club built up a special line to Brazil long before it became commonplace in Germany.
“Super Ossis”: after the fall of the inner-German
“Super Ossis”: after the fall of the inner-German border in 1989, Bayer moved faster than the competition.
border in 1989, Bayer moved faster than the competition. Scout Wolfgang Karnath brought East German jewels such as Ulf Kirsten, Andreas Thom and Jens Melzig to Leverkusen and in doing so changed the club for years.
“Old men”: aging stars under the Bayer cross.
Rudi Völler, Bernd Schuster and Michael Ballack all arrived in Leverkusen at stages of their careers when others might have thought their best years were already behind them. At Bayer, however, they became central figures once again.
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B04 · FY 2023-24Good to Know — Update 2020–2026
On 14 April 2024, the impossible finally happened after 31 years: Bayer 04 Leverkusen became German champions.
On 14 April 2024, the impossible finally happened
On 14 April 2024, the impossible finally happened after 31 years: Bayer 04 Leverkusen became German champions.
after 31 years: Bayer 04 Leverkusen became German champions. Not just somehow — but unbeaten. Under coach Xabi Alonso, the Werkself produced one of the greatest seasons in Bundesliga history.
Fifty-one competitive matches without defeat. Twenty-eight wins and six draws in the league. Champions and DFB Cup winners — the Double.
The end of “Vizekusen” and “Neverkusen.”
The Spaniard Xabi Alonso, recruited in 2022 from
The Spaniard Xabi Alonso, recruited in 2022 from the reserve side of Real Sociedad and still relatively unknown as a coach, transformed a middling team into a European top side.
the reserve side of Real Sociedad and still relatively unknown as a coach, transformed a middling team into a European top side. Florian Wirtz developed into the best young player in Europe. Granit Xhaka, signed from Arsenal, became the midfield leader. Sporting boss Simon Rolfes reshaped the squad intelligently.
In the 2024 Europa League final in Dublin,
In the 2024 Europa League final in Dublin, Leverkusen lost 0–3 to Atalanta Bergamo — the only defeat of the entire season, at least over 120 minutes.
Leverkusen lost 0–3 to Atalanta Bergamo — the only defeat of the entire season, at least over 120 minutes. It remained the only blemish on an otherwise historic campaign.