For those who follow the Bundesliga, the wait has ended: Bayer Leverkusen has finally won the German Championship, a victory whose significance goes beyond being a first title. The Leverkusen team—maliciously nicknamed “Neverkusen” in other periods—achieved something that seemed almost impossible: breaking Bayern Munich's dominance of the competition after the Bavarian club had won eleven consecutive titles.
Dethroning Bayern, although a historic achievement, is not enough to summarize the greatness of Xabi Alonso's work at Leverkusen. Under the former Spanish player's leadership, the team broke the record for unbeaten matches among European clubs in the 21st century. The team is also very much alive in the German Cup and UEFA Europa League. The chance of winning as many as three titles in one year, its unbeaten run, and its captivating style of play have transformed Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen into a true sensation on the European football scene.
A Bet That Paid Off
During the 2022-23 season, after eight rounds, Bayer Leverkusen occupied a dreadful next-to-last place in the Bundesliga. On October 5, the board chose to dismiss Swiss coach Gerardo Seoane and take a chance on Spaniard Xabi Alonso, whose only previous coaching experience had been with Real Sociedad's B team.
The German club was decisive. It chose the coach, stood by that choice, and demonstrated confidence in his approach. It also signed new players who fit Xabi Alonso's playing style and the club's culture. Leverkusen is now reaping the rewards of work performed extremely well this season.
Many of the players the club brought in were also gambles. With less financial power than its rival Bayern, Leverkusen had less room for error and therefore had to perform impeccable scouting work. The first to arrive was Álex Grimaldo, who signed a four-year contract with the club at no cost. Bayer Leverkusen then paid Arsenal €25 million to add Granit Xhaka's experience to the midfield. To secure Jonas Hofmann, the team paid Borussia Mönchengladbach €10 million. In attack, Nigerian Victor Boniface was acquired from Union Saint-Gilloise for €20.5 million.
Those four players ultimately became fundamental to the team, which also has one formidable standout: Florian Wirtz, only 20 years old. The player came through Leverkusen's youth system and moved up to the first team with great expectations. He suffered a serious injury in 2022, however, that kept him off the field for a long time. Despite the doubts, Leverkusen was patient with Wirtz and, little by little, the player demonstrated his talent on the field.
With all this, the importance of good football planning for a professional team becomes obvious. Even when there are doubts, following a model of excellence involves patience, persistence, and certainty about what one wants to achieve. Xabi Alonso, Wirtz, and a large part of the players who make up Leverkusen's squad are living proof of that.
Tactically, How Does Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen Play?
Under Xabi Alonso's guidance, Bayer Leverkusen adopted a tactical 3-4-3 variation while in possession, with the wing-backs closing the line of five when the team defends and changing the formation to a 4-5-1. Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, and Edmond Tapsoba form an extremely solid trio of center-backs; in midfield, Xhaka dictates the pace alongside Robert Andrich or Exequiel Palacios.
The team's main attacking forces operate on the sides of the field, with the extremely fast Jérémie Frimpong and Álex Grimaldo playing on the left and right, respectively. Hofmann gives the team the necessary balance, while the attack is handled mainly by Wirtz and Boniface, the team's greatest standouts.
Unlike other clubs of Bayer Leverkusen's stature that managed to achieve success in a particular season, none had the characteristics Xabi Alonso's team possesses. Bayer is a team that holds the ball, is aggressive, and attacks frequently. It is not a withdrawn side that sits deep waiting for a long ball on the counterattack. The team's wing-backs frequently take on an attacking role, entering the box to finish crosses coming from the opposite side, behavior reminiscent of traditional wingers.
Another interesting fact about the German team is the number of young players it has. Only 10 of the 30 players in Leverkusen's squad are over 25, demonstrating the long-term mindset and, once again, the patience that appears to be the key word behind the club's achievements.
From the tactics employed to the composition of the squad, including the mental resilience and exemplary work led by a young and courageous coach, Leverkusen's title is indisputable and deserves to be celebrated and remembered as an example of good work.
