Alonso says Leverkusen has achieved ‘something extraordinary’ by winning first Bundesliga title

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso says they have done “something extraordinary” by winning their first Bundesliga title.

Leverkusen beat Werder Bremen 5-0 on Sunday to win the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. Leverkusen won the title with five games remaining, ending Bayern Munich’s run of 11 consecutive titles.

Leverkusen is at the top of the table with 79 points after 29 matches, still unbeaten in all competitions this season.

According to ESPN, Alonso told reporters: “This is a very special moment for the club. After 120 years, to win the Bundesliga for the first time is something extraordinary. The players really performed, they were a top team together. I am so proud of all of them. For me, it’s an honor to work here.

“Finally, we can say Bayer Leverkusen is a German champion. It’s a huge honor for all of us. It was totally earned by the team, by the club, by the fans. Everyone, all departments, were working and fighting for this title, so we are a result of that hard work over many years. This is a moment to enjoy and a huge success for this club. The first title is always special for everyone. So to be part of this history feels incredible.”

Xabi Alonso was appointed as Leverkusen’s manager when they were in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table in October 2022. The Spanish coach now has led the club to a historic title in his first full season as a manager.

Alonso admitted that he first thought about winning the title when they opened a five-point lead at the top of the table by beating Bayern Munich in February.

“That game against Bayern at home,” Alonso said. “It could have turned out that they would have been ahead of us. We didn’t talk about winning the title in the locker room that day but we all knew.

“We were all thinking about it. The consistency, the quality of our game over the season, we earned this title. It’s not easy and we were living it every day, which made us believe. It’s an incredible team; all the players worked so hard, even the young guys. Everyone was always preparing hard. We might need a little more time to reflect on what we accomplished but right now, we want to enjoy this.”