Bayern Munich had won the Bundesliga for eleven years in a row, getting the nickname "Neverkusen" for the fact that they seemed unbeatable. But Bayer Leverkusen finally won the Bundesliga title in April 2024. They were always close to being the best team in the world. Their win over Werder Bremen and shocking loss to Bayern Munich were big moments in the league's history. With a huge 16-point lead and only five games left, Leverkusen's newfound strength marked a big change in the Bundesliga.
From Relegation Threat to Record Breakers
The story of Leverkusen's victory doesn't start with a moment of success, but with a moment of hopelessness. The club found itself in the relegation zone in October 2022. It was the worst start to a season they had seen in decades. Here comes Xabi Alonso, the highly regarded former player whose job it is to fix everything.
Alonso made an instant difference. Leverkusen finished in a reasonable sixth place, thanks to his winning attitude. But this time of revival set the stage for the title run in 2023–24. Alonso and the club's management made a very important choice because of the World Cup: they planned and carried out moves early.
By July 2023, Leverkusen had a full team, which is very different from how teams usually add players at the last minute. This careful method brought in players from Germany with knowledge (Granit Xhaka), skill (Jonas Hofmann), attacking skill (Alejandro Grimaldo), and firepower (Victor Boniface).
The results came right away. Leverkusen went out and won 11 of their first 12 games, which is a great start. Prior to his injury in January, Boniface spearheaded the attack, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists. He was a revelation up front.
Champions are known for being tough and not giving up
Many people believed the team's form would decline while Boniface was out. Instead, Leverkusen defied expectations. While he wasn't there, they won every league game except one, slowly pulling away from a Munich team that was losing steam. The inconsistent play of the Bavarians led to the firing of coach Thomas Tuchel, which made the gap between the two teams even bigger.
While Alonso was in charge, Leverkusen was unbeatable. Alonso helped Florian Wirtz, a young star player, grow and improve, winning a spot on the national team. Robert Andrich became a rock-solid midfielder, and his steady play earned him his first call-up to the national team.
The name "Neverkusen" finally seemed like something from the past. This Leverkusen team was much stronger than before, as shown by their amazing comebacks against Qarabag in the Europa League and Hoffenheim in the league. They were no longer the team that gave up when things got tough; they were winning.
The Bundesliga is entering a new era
Leverkusen's unbelievable run could only begin with their Bundesliga win. Leverkusen is on the verge of completing an incredible triple. They secured a spot in the German Cup final and are currently in a strong position in the Europa League quarterfinals.
This win affects more than one club's progress. In German sports, things have changed. A new era has ended. It looked like Bayern Munich would always be the best team because they had such an effect on football circles for many years. As of now, a new day has started.
Teams that want to do well can look to Leverkusen's win for inspiration. This reveals how important it is to plan thoroughly, make smart choices, and believe in a project. Germany's Bundesliga no longer has just one winner. With Leverkusen in charge, German football should have a very exciting few years.
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
(Inputs from agencies)
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