Can a single man permanently change the destiny of a club? The question necessarily requires nuance but if we were a supporter of Bayer Leverkusen, we would not bother ourselves too much with these considerations. We would give the keys to the club – and why not the city while we’re at it – directly to Xabi Alonso, and roll youth.
The Spanish coach has truly transformed Bayer since his arrival during last season. From a team in pieces, he made a war machine, the first in the history of the Bundesliga to finish the season undefeated, on the way to a hat-trick that awaits him. Not bad for a club accustomed to playing supporting roles, which also had the unfortunate habit of stumbling at the gates of history in good years, like during that famous 2001-2002 season when it failed to finish second in the championship, in the Champions League final and the German Cup final. Hence the nickname “Neverkusen”, the one who never – or very rarely – won a UEFA Cup in 1988 and a German Cup in 1993, despite the financial support of the powerful pharmaceutical and agrochemical group Bayer AG. since its creation 120 years ago.
The Xabi Alonso paw
No more mockery, everyone now fears “Neverlusen”, the club that never loses. And before the Europa League final against Atalanta this Wednesday evening, it’s been 51 matches, all competitions combined. “Quality has always been there at Leverkusen, but there has always been something missing,” legend Michael Ballack once said. The club seems to have found it in the person of Xabi Alonso, who brought his knowledge of winning forged throughout a career which saw him win a World Cup, two European championships and two C1s, not to mention his ten national titles with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern.
DNA question
But can this last? As extraordinary as it is, this season must be followed up to imprint this culture of winning in the DNA of the club. Not an easy task, as the last decades have given rise to all kinds of disillusionment. “I wouldn’t have been surprised if we had been knocked out of the Europa League against Qarabag. This would have been typical of Leverkusen, admits Julia, 34 years old, 20 of which as an inveterate Bayer supporter. I have always been used to others winning titles. »
The supporters, as a whole, however, believe in it. “The culture of the club has not only changed this season, it is the result of work over several years,” said Jan, 24. Takeover by President Fernando Carro [en 2018] professionalized the structure, then Simon Rolfes [directeur sportif depuis l’été 2022] made changes in the recruitment philosophy, with the aim of buying young talent but above all finding leadership and experience, which the team lacked in decisive moments. »
Carro and Rolfes, two names that often come up in the mouths of those who follow the club. As if to say, also, that everything does not rest on Xabi Alonso. Because if the technician assured that he would still be there next season, despite the advances of Liverpool or Bayern, his position remains precarious. Management can more easily take a long-term view. “Before them, we heard at the start of each season: “We want to reach the Champions League”. Now it’s “We want to win a title.” This is already a big change! », appreciates Julia.
“The feeling that something will be missing to keep this fire going”
The best proof according to her of this ongoing evolution is the number of matches where the team has won or avoided defeat in the last seconds, its trademark this season (16 goals scored in stoppage time, with none conceded). . “Before, many would have ended in a draw or a defeat,” she said. There is this absolute desire to fight until the end, it will leave a lasting mark on the club. »
Next season, with Xabi Alonso at the helm, the nugget Florian Wirtz, the Frimpong or Hincapie revelations and the captains like rankings regularly. Romain Brégerie, a French defender who played across the Rhine between 2011 and 2019, doubts it a little. “Leverkusen is not one of the “traditional clubs”, like Bayern, Dortmund or Cologne, that Germany loves so much. There’s a beautiful stadium, lots of people in the stands, but it’s quiet, without too much pressure. Maybe it will change, but we have the feeling that something will be missing to keep this fire going, he says. Only the big guys know how to win several years in a row. Bayer is not one yet. »
Flame lit
Force of habit, everyone in Germany is watching for Bayern Munich’s rebound next season, which never fails twice in a row. Launched on the future of his club, Jan is inexhaustible on the subject:
“ Bayern are currently a mess but they retain much superior means, so in the long term I don’t see Leverkusen being able to compete at this level. But in the next two, three years, the Bundesliga seems wide open and if we can capitalize on these successes, make big sales with players like Wirtz, Frimpong or Hincapie and Rolfes continues to do a good job in recruitment, all is possible. The most important thing will be to see who will replace Alonso when he leaves, because that will happen at some point, and if this next coach will be able to match his playing philosophy to the players at his disposal. » »
Those who are closely interested in the Bundesliga are in any case curious to see what happens next. “It brings back a little suspense, everyone there is happy, especially since it’s playing very well. It’s a team that we’re not used to seeing win, it would be great if that continued. » They will not remain so throughout their career, but “Die Unbesiegbaren” (“The Invincibles” in original version) lit a flame that not many people would have thought to see come to life in Westphalia.
