With a few games remaining, Bayer Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title and made history by being the first team to finish a season undefeated in the German top division. How then did the squad of Xabi Alonso succeed?
The longest unbeaten streak in German football history is being enjoyed by Bayer Leverkusen.
Although Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible undefeated season of 2023–24 has garnered international notice, the team’s quest for a first Bundesliga title began with a dismal start to the previous year. This campaign may yet culminate in victories in the German Cup and Europa League. After leading the team to a third-place finish the previous season, Gerardo Seoane left in October 2022 after winning just five points in the first eight games.
The subsequent hiring of Xabi Alonso, who had never before led a senior team, came with considerable risk because Leverkusen stood a genuine chance of falling into the second division after other German powerhouses like Schalke, Hamburg, and Hertha Berlin.
“Leverkusen shouldn’t see this as an experiment. Regarding Alonso’s appointment, sporting director Simon Rolfes stated, “Quality matters more than experience.” “There’s always a risk component, but you have to keep becoming better. I have no doubts at all that it will succeed.”
Generally speaking, it did. Following a month of inconsistent performance, Alonso’s style began to emerge. Leverkusen qualified for the Europa League, finished with 46 points from their last 24 games, and established the intelligent former Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich midfielder as a coach to watch thanks to a style centred on possession control, wingback width, and a strong press.
With Moussa Diaby going to Premier League team Aston Villa for €55 million (about $58 million), Rolfes was able to assist Alonso in creating a team that reflected his style for the upcoming campaign. Leverkusen’s success has been largely attributed to Nigerian striker Victor Boniface (€20.5 million), as well as seasoned midfielders Granit Xhaka (€15 million) and Jonas Hofmann (€10 million).
