One of the greatest achievements by Bayer 04 Leverkusen was during the 2002 UEFA Champions League when the team managed to reach the final. Besides that, the DFB-Pokal victory in 1993 was also a big achievement.
On top of all these victories, the club has consistently been one of the top four teams in the German league, which proves how competitive they are on the football scene in Germany.
Unfortunately, Bayer 04’s results are often described as inconsistent. For example, even though they had taken second place in the Bundesliga title on five different occasions, the team could still not become champions of the League. Consequently, their knock-out in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2002 was very disappointing.
Bayer 04 faced challenges in staying among the elite clubs according to the performance level in German football. Their performance during the season wasn’t consistent, and they couldn’t secure European qualification. While they have managed to achieve victories in the past, the club’s inability to be consistently good on the field has left fans and observers disappointed and craving for more success.
Everything changed for Bayer 04 Leverkusen when Xabi Alonso joined the club. His arrival not only coincided with a new period of stability but also contributed to the start of this success off the pitch in the future. Even though people weren’t always sure how the team would do, they could still get excited about the matches thanks to football betting odds on GG.Bet. These site let fans bet on Bayer 04 matches, making the games even more exciting. Alonso’s arrival gave Bayer 04 a fresh start and got fans dreaming of bigger things for the team.
Xabi Alonso – A Brief Profile
Xabi Alonso, the Tolosa-born midfielder born on November 25, 1981, is an idolized personality in the global football arena. Among the most popular members of the football world, both past and now, Alonso is known for his outstanding performances on the pitch, as well as his new career in coaching at some of Europe’s major clubs.
Throughout his professional career, Alonso displayed his exceptional talent and football intelligence at leading clubs, including Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. At Liverpool, he practically determined the outcome of the UEFA Champions League in 2005 whom they defeated 3-2 over AC Milan, and famously scored from his own half in the final.
Alonso mirrored his achievements again in La Liga, Bundesliga, and UEFA Champions League where he won the league titles, domestic cup, and league title, respectively. His remarkable quality that was noticed was his masterful skill of passing accurately, having a vision, and, above all, being a team leader both at the club and national level.
Later, Alonso retired from playing and transitioned to coaching, relying on his best practice and passing on his tactical skills to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. As part of the coaching staff, Alonso continues to inspire and guide the next generation of footballing talent.
Tactical Analysis – Alonso’s Influence on Bayer 04’s Success
The influence of Xabi Alonso on Bayer 04 Leverkusen playing style is evident in the tactical changes made under his leadership. Famous for his preference for the possession-based approach to the game, Alonso has introduced his calm and methodical playing style into the team’s style of play.
The one important tactical modification implemented by Alonso is the emphasis on building play from the back, using the goalkeeper and defenders to maintain possession and set the pace of the game. This technique not only allows Bayer 04 to control the game but also creates opportunities for fluid movement and combination play in the attacking third.
After that, Alonso introduced a more structured defensive shape, emphasizing compactness and organization without the ball. Along with this structured defensive approach, Bayer 04 becomes more resilient, reduces the opponent’s chances, and makes sudden turnovers to launch quick counter-attacks.
Meanwhile, in terms of tactical innovations, Alonso introduces fluid positioning and movement patterns, enabling his players to switch positions at will and catch their opponents off-guard. This demonstrated flexibility and creativity in the attack has led Bayer 04 to be a harder-to-predict and dangerous team.
