OMG
Scandals in blond and white: Bayer Leverkusen are
Scandals in blond and white: Bayer Leverkusen are “the eternal runners-up,” say those who dislike the works club.
“the eternal runners-up,” say those who dislike the works club. They also accuse them of bureaucratic football. Yet the club has produced more than enough outlandish stories of its own.
Schuster sues his club: when Bernd Schuster returned
Schuster sues his club: when Bernd Schuster returned from Spain to the Bundesliga in 1993 by joining Bayer, it eventually ended in court.
from Spain to the Bundesliga in 1993 by joining Bayer, it eventually ended in court. The blond angel and Leverkusen were never short of friction.
Phantom-goal masters: on two occasions Bayer scored goals
Phantom-goal masters: on two occasions Bayer scored goals that very obviously were not goals at all, and only the referees failed to notice.
that very obviously were not goals at all, and only the referees failed to notice. Phantom goal number one came in March 1981. Phantom goal number two came in the fiftieth Bundesliga season at Hoffenheim, when Stefan Kießling headed the ball through a hole in the side netting and the goal was allowed to stand.
About Schmidt: Leverkusen have had many coaches with
About Schmidt: Leverkusen have had many coaches with odd methods.
odd methods. Christoph Daum made players walk over broken glass. Heiko Herrlich and Roger Schmidt each had their own peculiarities. Bayer and strange coaching theatre have long belonged together.
OMG — Update 2020–2026
Fifty-one games unbeaten — the longest run in Europe’s elite football.
Fifty-one games unbeaten — the longest run in
Fifty-one games unbeaten — the longest run in Europe’s elite football.
Europe’s elite football. Leverkusen eclipsed the previous marks of Juventus Turin and Arsenal.
Xabi Alonso turned down Real Madrid. Hardly any
Xabi Alonso turned down Real Madrid.
coach has done that in recent memory. And a few months later he also said no to Bayern Munich. Leverkusen kept their title-winning coach.
The end of “Vizekusen” and “Neverkusen”: after years
The end of “Vizekusen” and “Neverkusen”: after years of lost finals and runner-up finishes, the curse finally ended in 2024....
of lost finals and runner-up finishes, the curse finally ended in 2024.