How Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title and end Bayern Munich's dynast

The Spanish coach has recently achieved an extraordinary feat with a team that was struggling near relegation when he took charge 18 months ago.
Former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Reiner Calmund once emphasized the significance of winning titles in football, stating that without one, a team's worth is diminished. Leverkusen, often referred to as 'Neverkusen' due to their string of second-place finishes, endured a particularly painful period around the early 2000s. Despite several strong seasons, they repeatedly fell short of securing titles, including dramatic losses in crucial matches.

In 2000, they squandered a chance to clinch the title with just a draw in their final game against SpVgg Unterhaching, a lesser-known club. Two years later, they faltered again, losing key matches and conceding the league to Borussia Dortmund. However, their most heartbreaking season came in 2001-02, marked by a series of defeats in crucial matches.

This included a devastating loss in the DFB-Pokal final to Schalke and a defeat in the Champions League final to Real Madrid, where they were stunned by a remarkable Zinedine Zidane goal.

Manager Klaus Toppmoller, who had jokingly called for celebratory wine and cigarettes after their surprising semi-final victory over Manchester United, found himself on the brink of despair in Glasgow as his talented team, featuring stars like Lucio, Michael Ballack, and Ze Roberto, concluded a remarkable season without any trophies.

Expressing a mix of pride and disappointment, Toppmoller acknowledged the team's hard work throughout the season but lamented the lack of tangible rewards. He conveyed to reporters the immense disappointment felt within the team, emphasizing the harsh reality of football where deserving efforts don't always translate into success. Reflecting on their journey, he described the situation as difficult to accept and acknowledged the bitter feelings it evoked.

In the 2010-11 season, Bayer Leverkusen secured yet another second-place finish, marking the fifth time in the club's history. Unlike previous instances, there wasn't a dramatic collapse this time around, but the infamous 'Neverkusen' moniker persisted, ingrained in the club's identity.

Despite consistently producing top-tier talent, Leverkusen continued to fall short of achieving significant success. Michael Ballack, in an interview with 11Freunde, lamented the team's perpetual inability to clinch titles, highlighting a persistent void despite their undeniable quality. That missing piece, it seems, was Xabi Alonso, who has now guided Leverkusen to their inaugural Bundesliga triumph with five games remaining in the season.

When Xabi Alonso announced his retirement from professional football, Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Bayern Munich, expressed his admiration for Alonso's midfield prowess and confidently predicted a successful transition into coaching, reassuring fans that Alonso would excel in his new role.

Alonso has not only met Guardiola's expectations but exceeded them. Guardiola, when asked about Alonso's coaching performance at Leverkusen, responded with a simple yet impressed "Wow!"

Jurgen Klopp also praised Alonso as a standout among the emerging generation of tacticians. Liverpool sought to hire him as Klopp's successor, while Bayern Munich aimed to address their managerial situation after Thomas Tuchel's departure. Despite the interest from other clubs, Alonso decided to remain at Leverkusen for another season, further elevating his status as one of the most sought-after coaches in the football world.

Alonso's appointment at Leverkusen in October 2022 was initially viewed as a significant achievement for the struggling German club, although it was met with some skepticism.

Got to respect him

Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen's sporting director, reflected on the decision to appoint Xabi Alonso, acknowledging the initial skepticism due to his lack of experience coaching a top team. However, Rolfes believed in Alonso's abilities from the start, and Alonso himself had confidence in the squad's quality.

Crucially, the players quickly bought into Alonso's leadership, influenced by his track record as a serial winner.

Jeremie Frimpong emphasized the respect the players have for Alonso, citing his extensive trophy cabinet, including Champions League and World Cup victories. Frimpong expressed gratitude for having such an accomplished manager and praised Alonso's understanding of the team's strengths and weaknesses.

While Leverkusen showed promise as they climbed from second-bottom to sixth in the 2022-23 season, Alonso recognized the need for reinforcements. He sought experienced and proven players to complement the team's young talent.

During the summer transfer window, Leverkusen made significant signings, including Granit Xhaka from Arsenal, veteran winger Jonas Hoffman from Hoffenheim on a free transfer, and Alex Grimaldo from Benfica, who had a successful tenure winning trophies. Recognizing the need for a prolific striker, Victor Boniface joined from Union Saint-Gilloise.

Despite the substantial €90 million spent on new signings, Leverkusen managed a net loss of only €20 million due to the sale of Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa, which accounted for a significant portion of their summer expenditure.
Remarkably, nearly every new signing proved to be a success for Leverkusen.

Coping with adversity

Despite only scoring nine goals in the previous season in Belgium, Victor Boniface proved to be the perfect striker for Xabi Alonso's 3-4-2-1 formation, contributing to a total of 24 goals, with 16 scored by himself, before his season was interrupted by injury in December.

Losing such a key player would have been devastating for most teams - just consider how much worse Bayern Munich would fare without Harry Kane. However, Leverkusen managed to adapt and continue winning, with winger Amine Adli stepping up as a quality alternative upfront.

Alonso effectively utilized his entire squad in the Europa League, allowing players like Patrik Schick to gradually regain form after returning from injury. Additionally, defender Josip Stanisic and winger Nathan Tella capitalized on their opportunities in continental competitions, solidifying their positions as reliable starters in the Bundesliga.

Peak of their powers

Bayer Leverkusen's senior players continued to demonstrate their value as the team competed on multiple fronts, advancing to the Europa League quarter-finals and the DFB-Pokal final while dominating the league.

Granit Xhaka, alongside the dynamic Argentine Exequiel Palacios, is arguably experiencing the peak of his career. Alex Grimaldo has been a mainstay in the team this season, forming a highly productive wing-back partnership with Jeremie Frimpong, contributing to an impressive 48 goal involvements between them.

Although Jonas Hoffman's form dipped slightly in recent months, he showcased his best performance in the Europa League victory over West Ham, tallying eight goals and assists. Among Leverkusen players, only Grimaldo and the exceptional Florian Wirtz have created more chances, with Wirtz's remarkable form standing out.

At just 20 years old, Wirtz is considered one of Europe's top No.10s, boasting an impressive tally of 17 goals and 18 assists, making him the top chance creator across the 'Big Five' leagues. Leverkusen's attacking prowess is further highlighted by their impressive goal tally in the league, trailing only behind Liverpool and Manchester City.

Always working

Leverkusen's remarkable defensive improvement has been a key factor in their rapid ascent under Xabi Alonso's leadership. When Alonso took over from predecessor Gerardo Seoane, he inherited a fragile backline that was conceding an average of two goals per game. However, Alonso's tactical switch to a three-man defense proved to be a stroke of genius, revitalizing the careers of players like Jonathan Tah, who has earned a recall to the Germany squad, and elevating the performances of Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou, and Piero Hincapie to new heights.

As a result of these changes, Leverkusen now boast the best defensive record in Germany, having conceded just 19 goals so far this season - a remarkable 17 fewer than second-placed Bayern Munich.

Tah attributes this defensive transformation entirely to Alonso's influence.
"The coach is constantly working with us defenders," Tah stated in an interview with Die Zeit. "He is actively involved, regardless of a player's prominence. This level of coaching intervention is rare, as many coaches lack the playing experience that Alonso possesses."

Relationships before tactics

Fernando Carro, the club CEO, praised Xabi Alonso's meticulous, analytical, and self-assured coaching approach, which has deeply resonated with the players. However, the players' testimonials suggest that Leverkusen's title triumph goes beyond merely following instructions. Alonso himself emphasizes the importance of building strong human relationships before focusing on tactics.

According to Alex Grimaldo, Alonso's coaching instills confidence and calmness in the players, regardless of the situation. This mindset has contributed to Leverkusen being the only unbeaten team in Europe this season. Their ability to both outplay and outbattle opponents has led to several late comebacks and an unwavering belief among the players, as expressed by winger Amine Adli.

Former manager Klaus Toppmoller expressed immense pride in Leverkusen's confident, determined, and tactically superb style of play. He believes that the club now has a significant opportunity to shed the 'Vizekusen' label and establish themselves as champions.
On Sunday, Leverkusen achieved exactly that by denying Bayern Munich a 12th consecutive German title. This victory marks the end of the 'Neverkusen' curse, with Bayer crowned as the 2023-24 Bundesliga champions, signaling a new era of success for the club.