Record 44-game unbeaten run brings to an end 31 years of hurt and ridicule for Bayer Leverkusen
CNN
How Xabi Alonso turned Bayer Leverkusen from doubters to believers and winners of the first Bundesliga in the club’s 119-year history.
‘Jurassic Park’ has just been released. The Chicago Bulls have won their third NBA title in a row. The last episode of ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ has been broadcast. Fast forward – there have been five more ‘Jurassic Park’ films since June 1993. The Bulls won another three-peat of titles. The ‘Late Night’ show franchise has seen multiple hosts. However, if you were a fan of German soccer club Bayer Leverkusen, little changed for you over those 31 years – there was just a lot of disappointment. Since winning the German Cup in 1993, Leverkusen relentlessly explored increasingly agonizing ways of spurning chances to win trophies. A 42-year-old man from Spain’s Basque Country has changed that though now. Xabi Alonso’s Midas touch has brought a modern day footballing miracle to Leverkusen, sweeping in a wave of positivity and optimism for a team often associated with heartbreak.
