Bayer Leverkusen Codexery
An unofficial fan history of Bayer Leverkusen — its eras, legends, honours, iconic matches, and rivalries.
Club History & Eras
Mirko Votava Promotion Era · Christoph Daum Champions League Run · First Bundesliga Admission 1963 · Bayer 04 Founding 1904 · BayArena Opening 1958 · Double Runners-Up Season 2002 · Club Centenary Celebrations 2004 · Robin Dutt Youth Development · Klaus Toppmöller First Stint · Roger Schmidt Tactical Revolution · Udo Lattek Management Era · Post-War Reformation Era · 1988 UEFA Cup Final Run · Ralf Rangnick Appointment · Champions League Semi-Final 2002 · Klaus Toppmöller Management · Golden Generation Squad · Jupp Heynckes Short Stint · Roger Schmidt Appointment
Legendary Players & Icons
Lars Ricken · Oliver Kahn · Zlatko Zahovič · Lucio · Xabi Alonso · Simon Rolfes · Oliver Neuville · Jürgen Gelsdorf · Sami Khedira · Thomas Hitzlsperger · Bernd Schuster · Marco Bode · Claudio Pizarro · Michael Ballack · Patrick Owomoyela · Karim Bellarabi · Lukas Podolski
Honours, Records & The 'Almost' Legacy
Bundesliga Runners-up 1999-2000 · Bundesliga Runners-up 2001-2002 · DFB-Pokal Finalists 1998 · Bundesliga Runners-up 2000-2001 · Champions League Semi-Finalists 2002 · The Neverkusen Moniker · DFB-Ligapokal Winners 1995 · Miroslav Klose Top Scorer 2002 · DFB-Pokal Winner 1993 · Bundesliga Runners-up 1997 · Rudi Völler · BayArena Stadium · Die Nuller Era · Zé Roberto · Christoph Daum
Iconic Matches & Defining Games
2023-24 Bundesliga Unbeaten Season Run · 2024 DFB-Pokal Final vs Kaiserslautern · 2005 UEFA Cup Final vs CSKA Moscow · 2002 UEFA Champions League Final vs Real Madrid · 1988 DFB-Pokal Final vs Hamburger SV · 1993 DFB-Pokal Final vs Karlsruher SC · 2004 Champions League Quarter-Final vs AC Milan · 2009 Champions League Quarter-Final vs Manchester United · 2002 DFB-Pokal Final vs Schalke 04 · 2024 DFB-Pokal Semi-Final vs Bayern Munich · 1988-89 European Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final vs Barcelona · 2024 Bundesliga Match vs Bayern Munich (Der Klassiker) · 2023 Champions League Group Stage vs Real Madrid · 2001 Champions League Semi-Final vs Valencia · 2002 Bundesliga Match vs Bayern Munich (Title Decider) · 2024 UEFA Europa League Final vs Atalanta BC · 2002 DFB-Pokal Final vs FC Schalke 04 · 2002 Bundesliga Title Decider vs Werder Bremen · 2024 Bundesliga Unbeaten Season Record · 2017 DFB-Pokal Final vs Eintracht Frankfurt · 1993 DFB-Pokal Final vs 1. FC Kaiserslautern · 2024 DFB-Pokal Final vs 1. FC Kaiserslautern · 2001-02 UCL Semi-Final Second Leg vs AS Monaco · 1987-88 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final vs Barcelona · all 27 →
Great Rivalries & Derbies
Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt · Leverkusen vs Werder Bremen · Bayern Munich · Borussia Dortmund · FC Köln · Schalke 04 · Hamburger SV · Eintracht Frankfurt · Hertha BSC · Werder Bremen · Kickers Offenbach · VfL Bochum · MSV Duisburg
Stadium, Fans & Club Culture
Südkurve · Werkself · BayArena · Leverkusen Fans e.V. · Wir sind Bayer · UEFA Cup Final 2002 · DFB-Pokal Final 2002 · Schilbergstadion · Pharma-Riesen · Leverkusen ist die Stadt · Bayer Leverkusen Fans Club · Nordrheinderby · Der Löwe · Wir sind die Werkself