Double Runners-Up Season 2002

Lore & Background

Founded in 1904 by employees of the paint factory, today better known as a pharmaceutical company Bayer, the club was formerly a department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen sports club. In 1999, the football department was separated from the sports club. Bayer Leverkusen's main colours are red and black, and their main rival is 1. FC Köln, while the fans have had a deep friendship with the supporters of Kickers Offenbach for almost 50 years.

In Their Own Story

The rain at the BayArena was cold, mirroring the mood inside the stadium as the final whistle blew against Werder Bremen. Michael Ballack stood on the pitch, staring blankly at the scoreboard that confirmed their fate: second place, despite not having lost a single game all year. The silence was heavier than any jeer; it was the sound of a dream deferred. Just days later, in Rotterdam, the same feeling returned as penalties decided the UEFA Cup, leaving the Werkself to wonder if they were destined to be the greatest team that never quite made it.

Reader's Guide

In the 2001–02 season, Bayer Leverkusen finished runners-up in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League. The manager was Klaus Toppmöller. The top scorer was Michael Ballack with 17 goals. The club lost the UEFA Champions League final 2–1 to Real Madrid. The season is sometimes called the 'Treble Horror' by English-language media, who also dubbed the club 'Neverkusen'.

Did You Know?

• Bayer Leverkusen won the UEFA Cup, a European competition, in 1988.
• The club won its first domestic honor, the DFB-Pokal, in 1993.
• In 2024, Leverkusen won its first Bundesliga title and second DFB-Pokal, becoming the first German team to win the league or domestic double unbeaten, while setting a European record of 51 consecutive unbeaten competitiv