What Happened to Bayer 04 Leverkusen?
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has transformed from a perennial 'Neverkusen' into a Bundesliga powerhouse, achieving their first-ever league title in the 2023-24 season under Xabi Alonso, along with a DFB-Pokal win and a Europa League runner-up finish. Following Alonso's departure and a brief, unsuccessful stint with Erik ten Hag, the club is now led by Kasper Hjulmand, navigating the 2025-26 season in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League.
Quick Answer
Bayer 04 Leverkusen experienced a historic period in 2023-24, winning their first Bundesliga title unbeaten and securing the DFB-Pokal, while also reaching the Europa League final. After Xabi Alonso's departure in mid-2025, Erik ten Hag had a very brief tenure before Kasper Hjulmand took over as head coach in September 2025. As of March 11, 2026, the club is competing in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal (reaching the semi-finals against Bayern Munich), and the UEFA Champions League (reaching the Round of 16).
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Xabi Alonso Extends Contract
Head coach Xabi Alonso signed a two-year contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen, committing him to the club until 2026, following an impressive first season where he guided them to a sixth-place Bundesliga finish and a Europa League semi-final.
Secures Champions League Qualification
Bayer Leverkusen became the first team to qualify for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League group stage, a testament to their dominant performance in the Bundesliga.
Wins First Bundesliga Title
Bayer Leverkusen secured their historic first-ever Bundesliga title by defeating Werder Bremen 5-0, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year reign as champions.
Sets European Unbeaten Record
Following a 2-2 draw against Roma in the Europa League, Leverkusen set a new European record for the longest unbeaten run in competitive games (51 matches).
Europa League Runner-up
Bayer Leverkusen reached the UEFA Europa League final but ultimately lost 3-0 to Atalanta, finishing as runners-up.
Wins DFB-Pokal
Bayer Leverkusen completed a domestic double by winning the DFB-Pokal for the 2023-24 season, their second time winning the cup.
Wins DFL-Supercup
Bayer Leverkusen won the DFL-Supercup for the 2024-25 season, adding another trophy to their recent successes.
Florian Wirtz Transfers to Liverpool
Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool for a record transfer fee of €117.5-€125 million, becoming the most expensive Bundesliga transfer in history.
Erik ten Hag Appointed Head Coach
Following Xabi Alonso's departure, Erik ten Hag was appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
Pre-season Tour and Academy in Brazil
Bayer 04 Leverkusen became the first Bundesliga team to hold a pre-season training camp in South America (Rio de Janeiro) and opened its first official football academy in Sao Paulo.
Erik ten Hag Sacked
Erik ten Hag was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just two Bundesliga games and three competitive matches, marking the shortest managerial tenure in German football history.
Kasper Hjulmand Appointed Head Coach
Former Denmark national team manager Kasper Hjulmand was appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
Advances to DFB-Pokal Quarter-finals
Bayer Leverkusen defeated Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the DFB-Pokal Round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals.
DFB-Pokal Semi-final Draw vs. Bayern Munich
The draw for the DFB-Pokal semi-finals pitted Bayer 04 Leverkusen against rivals FC Bayern Munich, with the match scheduled for April 21 or 22, 2026.
Champions League Round of 16 Match vs. Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen is scheduled to play Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a German professional football club, has undergone a significant transformation, shedding its long-standing 'Neverkusen' moniker to achieve unprecedented success in recent years. The pivotal turning point came with the appointment of Xabi Alonso as head coach in October 2022. Alonso quickly revitalized the team, leading them to a sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga and a Europa League semi-final in his first partial season.
The 2023-24 season marked a historic chapter for the club. Under Alonso's guidance, Bayer Leverkusen clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title on April 14, 2024, ending Bayern Munich's eleven-year dominance. This achievement was made even more remarkable as they became the first German team to win the league unbeaten, setting a European record for 51 consecutive unbeaten competitive games across all competitions. They also secured the DFB-Pokal in the same season, completing a domestic double, and reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they finished as runners-up to Atalanta.
The summer of 2025 brought significant changes. Star attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz departed for Liverpool in June 2025 for a reported fee of €117.5 to €125 million, making him the most expensive transfer in Bundesliga history. Following this, Xabi Alonso, who had extended his contract until 2026 in August 2023, departed to take over at Real Madrid. Erik ten Hag was appointed as his successor in July 2025, but his tenure was exceptionally brief, lasting only two Bundesliga games before he was sacked on September 1, 2025, setting a new record for the shortest managerial stint in German top-flight history.
Former Denmark national team manager Kasper Hjulmand was appointed as the new head coach on September 8, 2025. Under Hjulmand, Bayer Leverkusen has continued to compete across multiple fronts in the 2025-26 season. As of March 11, 2026, they are currently 6th in the Bundesliga standings. The club has reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, where they are scheduled to face Bayern Munich on April 22, 2026. They are also participating in the UEFA Champions League, having advanced to the Round of 16. Off the pitch, Bayer Leverkusen expanded its global presence with a pre-season tour in Brazil in July 2025, becoming the first Bundesliga club to do so, and opened its first official football academy in Sao Paulo. CEO Fernando Carro has expressed the club's ambition to win the Bundesliga again by 2028 or 2029.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Bayer 04 Leverkusen made different choices?