Alonso Leads Bayer Leverkusen to First Bundesliga Title

By Andrew Lord

14 April 2024

Bayer Leverkusen have won the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history.

The title victory became a mere formality after Bayern Munich, who had won eleven Bundesliga titles in a row, lost 3-2 to Heidenheim last week. The defeat meant Leverkusen needed just one win from its remaining six league fixtures to clinch the Bundesliga title.

Nearest rivals Bayern Munich beat Cologne yesterday, but Leverkusen’s victory 5-0 over Werder Bremen secured the title. Under Alonso, Leverkusen remain unbeaten in the league this season and have not lost a single game in 43 matches in all competitions.

Leverkusen trainer Xavi Alonso, who was given the traditional beer shower after the game, told reporters: “We have to enjoy and celebrate today with our families, friends and fans. This was my first season as a coach, the feeling is incredible.”

The victory exorcises the ghosts of failures past. Leverkusen had been dubbed Neverkusen and Vizekusen after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when well-placed to win the Bundesliga in 2000 and 2002.

It was apt that midfielder Florian Wirtz scored a hat-trick the help seal the Bundesliga title for Leverkusen. The 20-year-old has played a pivotal role this season, scoring 11 league goals with ten assists. Back in March 2022, Wirtz was out of action for months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Now Wirtz can expect to be part of the Germany squad in the 2024 UEFA European Championship this summer.

Unbelievable mentality

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen last summer, said: “Obviously, at the start of the season we couldn’t have imagined this. We did something this year that is more than special. This focus, this mentality to win every game is unbelievable.”

The Bundesliga title is the first trophy the club has won since the German Cup victory in 1993. Leverkusen are still on course to win a historic treble this season. The club will face Kaiserslautern in the final of the German Cup at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on 25 May and are poised to advance to the semi-final of the Europa League after beating West Ham United 2-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final at the BayArena.

Leverkusen were given a boost last month when trainer Xavi Alonso confirmed that he will remain at the club, despite interest from Liverpool and former club Bayern Munich. The 42-year-old told reporters: “It’s been a season where we’ve had a lot of speculation regarding my future, until now we’ve had so many games, we’ve been pretty busy and focused. For sure, all the decisions you have to analyse well. I try to take the right ones, and where they come in a natural way. This is the right way for me to develop as a coach. I am a young coach, but right now, I feel this is the right place.”

Bayer Leverkusen represent an exception to the 50+1 rule in place in Germany, which stipulates that fans hold a majority in the ownership of Bundesliga clubs. The club was founded by the pharmaceutical giant Bayer in 1904.

Chaos at FC Hollywood

This season, Leverkusen have been able to capitalise on the chaos at Bayern Munich. In previous campaigns, the Abteilung Attacke or Attack Department led by former Bayern Munich general manage Uli Hoeneß had succeeded in gaining an advantage by throwing psychological poison darts as rivals, such as Hoeneß’ statement that erstwhile Bayer Leverkusen manager had “filled his pants” towards the end of the Bundesliga campaign in 2000. This year, the Bavarians seemed to spend more time arguing amongst themselves. Bayern Munich appointed Thomas Tuchel to replace Julian Nagelsmann as Bayern Munich trainer in March 2023, but six league defeats and rumours of a dressing room rebellion resulted in Tuchel being sacked in February, although he will remain trainer until the end of the season. The trouble for Tuchel began last year when he reportedly told players he thought they were much better, but that he would simply have to come down to their level.

The result leaves Harry Kane still looking to win the first trophy of his career. He has scored 32 Bundesliga goals in 29 matches since. However, with Bayern Munich still competing in the Champions League this season, the 30-year-old striker, who joined the Bavarians for a reported 100 million Euros last summer, could break his duck.