A huge talent, a second coach on the pitch, an unstoppable winger – and many footballers who their coach has made better: Leverkusen’s championship squad in short portraits.
By now everyone must have noticed who is recognized as being primarily responsible for Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s historic first German championship: Xabi Alonso, 42, creator of a footballing work of art. But he needed players who could implement his ideas. He made almost everyone better, and for many he probably found the role of their footballing life. You could have a world career of similar dimensions to what coach Alonso experienced as a player. The championship squad in short portraits.