Bayern Leverkusen have been crowned champions of Germany Football after a stunning campaign since the appointment of Xabi Alonso
The Spanish tactician have been a breathe of fresh air since his appointment as gaffer. The German outlet now have their eyes set on other trophies despite securing the league with a 5-0 win over Wender Bremen on Sunday
Victor Boniface’s 25th-minute penalty, a rocket from former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka and a hat-trick from homegrown starlet Florian Wirtz put the seal on things.
Victory over Werder represented Leverkusen’s 25th of the season in just their 29th game. That is exactly why they are now champions. Alonso’s side have been in sensational form all season and justifiably end the domestic dominance of Bayern Munich
They had finished as Bundesliga runners-up on five occasions in the past – the most recent coming in 2011.
The most famous of their failures came during the 2001/02 season when, odds on to win the title, they took just one win from their final four games and saw Bayern Munich steam in to claim the trophy by a point.
It then got worse for Leverkusen as they were defeated 3-2 by Schalke in the German Cup final. And despite dominating Real Madrid in the Champions league Final just days later, they found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline
From a potential treble to trophyless. It was then that the ‘Neverkusen’ nickname started to stick. That is all very, very different now after Alonso finally ended the club’s hoodoo. A street as a result have been named after the tactician in Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has also pledged his loyalty to the club despite offers from European giants, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool
With their eyes on the European trophy and an already qualified cup final, Xabi Alonso’s name will be echoed on the walls of Leverkusen
