Leverkusen hit new record with third title in 13 months under Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso’s coaching journey with Bayer Leverkusen reached new heights as his team secured the German Super Cup.

The win which came after a penalty shootout against Stuttgart, marked Alonso’s third trophy in just 13 months at the club, and Leverkusen’s fifth title ever.

Alonso’s side took the lead through Victor Boniface, but a red card for Martin Terrier after 37 minutes left Leverkusen under pressure.

Stuttgart capitalized on their numbers, taking a 2-1 lead, but Patrik Schick’s late equalizer forced a penalty shootout, where Leverkusen won 4-3.

The latest victory adds to Alonso’s previous successes, including the DFB-Pokal and a dominant Bundesliga title, where they ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign.

With three trophies under his belt, Alonso is now responsible for more than half of Leverkusen’s all-time silverware.

Leverkusen’s win also extends their unbeaten streak in German football to 53 games, a run dating back to May 2023.

The only dent in an otherwise perfect season was their Europa League final loss to Atalanta.

Reflecting on the Super Cup victory, Alonso praised his team saying: “What we did at the end of the game with 10 players and scoring the late equalizer showed our big spirit.

“I’m really happy that we have started the season like this.”

Despite being linked with top managerial positions across Europe, including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Alonso chose to continue his journey with Leverkusen.