Bayer 04 Leverkusen were founded in 1904 by employees of the pharmaceutical company Bayer. For decades the club was known for near-misses, earning the nickname 'Neverkusen' after finishing second in the league, cup and Champions League in 2002. That changed in 2023/24, when Xabi Alonso's team won the Bundesliga without losing a match and added the DFB-Pokal. Leverkusen also won the UEFA Cup in 1988. They play at the BayArena.
