Going into the 2023/2024 season, virtually no one would have predicted that Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen would dethrone Bayern Munich and win the Bundesliga title, much less in such dominant fashion. Leverkusen’s 5-0 rout of Werder Bremen on Sunday left the new champions 16 points clear with five games remaining, an insurmountable lead for the Bavarian side.
The infamous ‘Neverkusen’ moniker quickly transformed into ‘Winnerkusen,’ thanks to Alonso and his resilient group of players.
This achievement of securing their inaugural Bundesliga crown is all the more remarkable when you consider that just in October 2022, Alonso assumed the managerial reins while Leverkusen teetered on the brink of relegation.
Since then, Leverkusen’s trajectory has been incredibly impressive, culminating in their first Bundesliga title in their 120-year history.
In this piece, FLOS highlights the key factors largely responsible for Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable turnaround story from strugglers to champions.
Factors behind Leverkusen’s title victory
Xabi Alonso’s X-factor
Alonso’s decision to remain at Leverkusen underscores his status as one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches. Having honed his craft under the tutelage of coaching luminaries such as Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benítez, and Jose Mourinho during his playing career, Alonso’s tactical acumen is arguably second to none.
While he predominantly favours a possession-based approach, which often exhausts opponents or breaks them down over time—a strategy that has contributed to Leverkusen’s penchant for late-game triumphs—Alonso has also demonstrated adaptability. In a pivotal 3-0 victory over Bayern in February, he seamlessly transitioned to a back four, reverting to the counter- attacking style that proved successful in the previous season.
Since assuming the managerial reins in October 2022, Alonso has indeed transformed Leverkusen into a footballing juggernaut. Over his 80 games in charge thus far, he has amassed a record of 55 wins, equating to a remarkable 68.8% win rate, with 15 draws and 10 defeats.
Leverkusen’s attacking prowess under Alonso is evident, with 187 goals scored, averaging 2.34
per match, while conceding just 77, or just under a goal per game, according to Fotmob.
Prudent transfer dealings
While the acquisition of England’s captain, Harry Kane appeared to be a brilliant move by Bayern Munich and Max Eberl, Leverkusen’s transfers going into this season have arguably emerged as the true stroke of genius.
Alejandro Grimaldo – one of the standout performers in the league, along with a handful of signings completed by Die Werkself have proven to be the most shrewd bit of business by any Bundesliga club has made in recent years.
The Spanish fullback, Grimaldo, has recorded nine goals and 13 assists in his 29 Bundesliga appearances thus far this season.
Other signings made by Sporting Director Simon Rolfes, including Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka, Nathan Tella, and Jonas Hofmann, have all integrated perfectly into the team’s setup.
While Grimaldo has effectively caused opposition teams trouble down the flanks, Xhaka and Hofmann have brought experience and guile to the midfield in an otherwise young squad. Boniface, despite his lengthy injury, has been able to rack up 11 goals in just 18 Bundesliga appearances.
While Kane’s record 32 goals in his debut Bundesliga campaign have certainly boosted a Bayern side that have been without a top-level striker after Robert Lewandowski left in 2022, the same cannot be said for other players brought in to complement the team.
While South Korean defender Kim Min-jae has been solid in defense, the performances of fellow recruits Eric Dier, Konrad Laimer, and Raphael Guerreiro, leave much to be desired. Winter signings Sacha Boey and Bryan Zaragoza have seen minimal game time action, suggesting that the Bundesliga club’s recruitment may have fallen short compared to Leverkusen’s more successful acquisitions.
Resilience and Belief
Going 43 games unbeaten requires not just skill and tactical intelligence but also considerable mental strength. Throughout the 2023-24 season, Leverkusen have excelled in winning games in the final minutes.
Substitute striker Patrik Schick, in particular, has been instrumental, scoring four stoppage-time goals in the Bundesliga and Europa League last month alone. However, it’s not just Schick; goals have also come from other players in crunch-time situations, helping the team salvage results and avoid defeats on numerous occasions.
In 2024, Leverkusen have demonstrated their resilience by scoring seven goals to equalize in added time against teams like Leipzig (2-3), Hoffenheim (2-1), Qarabag (2-2 and 3-2), Augsburg (0-1), and Stuttgart (3-2). This remarkable feat has solidified their status as the only team in Europe to remain unbeaten in all competitions, boasting an impressive record of 38 wins and five draws in 43 matches, thus equaling Juventus’ record from the 2011-12 season.
Bayern Munich’s struggle
Leverkusen’s rise to success is juxtaposed by Bayern’s recent struggles. The perennial Bundesliga giants have in recent times shown frailties, most recently in the climax of the 2022-23 season, where they were gifted the league title thanks to Borussia Dortmund’s collapse on the final day of the season. Coach Thomas Tuchel,who is set to depart at the end of the season, has lamented his team’s inability to translate their excellent training performances into actual matches, a puzzle that remains unsolved. The frequent injuries to key players like Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and several defenders have further compounded Tuchel’s challenges, depriving him of a consistent lineup week after week. Leverkusen’s triumph over Bayern in February marked a turning point, as Bayern’s form dipped, winning just three of their next seven league games, while Leverkusen surged ahead, building a substantial lead.
Bayer Leverkusen are already experiencing a season for the history books, and it could become their best in the club’s 120-year existence if they win the DFB-Pokal, where they will be facing 2nd division side FC Kaiserslautern in the final, and the UEFA Europa League, where they are already poised for a semi-final berth. The hunt for the treble is a tangible prospect and this historic feat is certainly on the cards.
Regardless of how the rest of the 2023-24 season unfolds for Die Werkself, it will undoubtedly be remembered as their most iconic and unprecedented campaign, thanks to the leadership of a certain Spaniard—Xabi Alonso.
