Can Leverkusen break Neverkusen tag?
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is founded by employees of the German pharmaceutical company Bayer AG in 1904. They were first promoted to Bundesliga in 1979 and remained in top league of German football ever since. They have been runner-up in Bundesliga five times without ever winning it. They had a heartbreaking season in 2001-02 season when they finished in second place of Dfb Pokal, Uefa Champions League, Bundesliga. This led to dub them with the tag called Neverkusen.
Coached by Klaus Toppmöller in 2002 and in Michael Ballack a superstar, Leverkusen yielded five point lead at top of league to Dortmund in the last three matches. They lost two of it's last three matches while Dortmund swept away with three wins to miss out Bundesliga. In Dfb Pokal final, Leverkusen lost to Schalke by 4-2. Also reaching UCL final as the first team without winning national championship, they were beaten by Real Madrid by 2-1(remember Zidane's famous left foot volleyed winner?). These second place results earned them tag of Neverkusen.
At winter break of 2023-24, they are the league leaders of Bundesliga. Coached by Xabi Alonso, can Leverkusen break their Neverkusen tag this year?