5 times Bayer Leverkusen were denied the Bundesliga title

By
Frank Appiah
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Since their promotion to the German top flight in 1979, numerous near-misses and heartbreaking defeats have marked the Bayer Leverkusen journey to Bundesliga triumph.

Their 2023/24 Bundesliga win is certainly a historic feat but it is even more of an achievement that changes the perception around the club forever.

The Reds and Blacks need no introduction to clinching trophies as they already began the move in their early years in the league where they have underscored their determination to become a regular participant in the competition.

DFP Polak champions in 1992/93 and UEFA Cup winners in 1987/88 but the Die Werkself have longed for the Bundesliga title for decades.

However, their quest to win the envious league trophy has always faced last-minute setbacks earning them infamous monikers like Neverkusen, The Eternal Bridesmaid and The Nearly Men among others.

However, Xabi Alonso needed one full season to change the unwanted name.

Despite consistently performing at a high level, they were repeatedly denied the league title, often by perennial rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Let’s take a closer look at five instances where Leverkusen came agonisingly close but ultimately fell short:

1996/97 season

Despite a commendable performance throughout the season, Leverkusen fell short of matching Bayern’s consistency, allowing the latter to clinch the title by a narrow margin. The 1996/97 season marked the club’s most successful domestic campaign , as that the time as they finished second behind Bayern Munich. Although the gap was only two points, it was largely unexpected. Additionally, this achievement earned Leverkusen their debut entry into the UEFA Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals, facing off against Real Madrid.

1998/99 season

Once more, Leverkusen positioned themselves as contenders for the Bundesliga title. However, their aspirations were dashed as Bayern emerged victorious, relegating Leverkusen to the runner-up position. The 1998/99 season witnessed Leverkusen once again finishing as the second-best team, trailing behind Bayern. Despite the eventual 15-point gap between the two clubs, Leverkusen may not have been overly frustrated or disheartened by the outcome.

1999/00 season

Arguably the most heart-wrenching season for Leverkusen, they famously missed out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the season. This disappointment starkly contrasted with the optimism of the following year.

Requiring only a draw to secure the championship, Leverkusen suffered a dramatic defeat to Unterhaching, allowing Bayern Munich to snatch the title from their grasp.

With just five games remaining, Leverkusen had ascended to the top of the table, maintaining their lead going into the final weekend. They held a three-point advantage as they faced Unterhaching, while Bayern, with a superior goal difference, hosted Werder Bremen.

This heartbreaking defeat led to the emergence of the mocking term “Vizekusen” in German, which translates to “Runners-up-kusen” in English. It later evolved into “Neverkusen,” symbolising Leverkusen’s unfortunate tendency to fall short of claiming the title.

2001/02 season 

Their downfall came in the penultimate round of the league, where they lost their grip on first place in the Bundesliga going into the final day. Despite securing a 2-1 victory against Hertha Berlin, Leverkusen couldn’t reclaim the top spot from Borussia Dortmund, who rallied from behind to defeat Werder by the same scoreline and clinch the title.

Just a week later, Leverkusen suffered a 4-2 defeat to Schalke in the DFB Cup final which followed with another disappointment four days later as they lost in the Champions League final in Glasgow. The team’s hopes of an unprecedented treble, extinguished in an instant. Neverkusen!

2010/11 season

Even the parent company Bayer AG couldn’t overlook the team’s recurring second-place finishes, trademarking the term “Vizekusen” in 2010. This came during a remarkable season where Leverkusen made a 24-game unbeaten start under Jupp Heynckes but ultimately finished fourth.

The following season saw yet another heartbreak for Leverkusen, as they settled for a fifth runners-up finish behind Jürgen Klopp’s formidable Dortmund side in 2010/11. Despite leading the table for much of the campaign, Leverkusen stumbled at crucial junctures, allowing Dortmund to surge ahead and snatch the title away.

In each of these instances, Leverkusen showed immense talent and determination but ultimately fell short of their ultimate goal. Whether it was Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, their rivals always seemed to find a way to prolong Leverkusen’s title drought.

However, after decades of heartbreak and disappointment, Leverkusen have finally broken the curse and claimed their maiden Bundesliga title. It is a testament to their resilience and perseverance, and a moment of triumph that will be celebrated by fans for years to come.