Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen were founded in 1904 and built their identity around the Bayer pharmaceutical company, which remains embedded in the club's name and structure. The club earned the nickname "Neverkusen" after finishing as runners-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League in 2002, a painful treble of near-misses. That reputation was shattered in 2024 when Leverkusen completed an unbeaten Bundesliga season under Xabi Alonso, winning their first-ever league title and breaking Bayern...