Contents
On 14 April 2024, Bayer 04 Leverkusen beat Werder Bremen 5–0 and won the first German championship in the club’s history. The coach was the Spaniard Xabi Alonso. He had taken over the team on 5 October 2022, when it was in 17th place. The 2023/24 season ended without a single defeat in the Bundesliga. The road there illustrates the Law of Victory: leaders find a way for their team to win.
Starting in the relegation zone
Situation
Alonso replaced Gerardo Seoane after the eighth matchday. Leverkusen won his first game 4–0 against Schalke 04. The team finished the season in sixth place. In the Europa League it reached the semi-finals.
Link to the law
Those who want to win accept the starting position as it is. Alonso did not look for excuses in the league table. Leaders first create small, visible wins. These give the team its belief back.
Strengthening the squad with purpose
Situation
In the summer of 2023, the arrivals included Granit Xhaka from Arsenal FC, Álex Grimaldo from Benfica, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella. With 21 goals in competitive matches, Boniface became the top scorer of the season.
Link to the law
Victories need the right people. A leader recognises which skills the team lacks and brings them in deliberately. Goodwill alone is no substitute for quality.
Goals in the final minutes
Situation
During the unbeaten run, Leverkusen scored 34 goals from the 80th minute onwards. 17 of them came in stoppage time. Several times the team rescued a draw or a win this way.
Link to the law
This is where the Law of the Big Mo comes into play. Every late goal strengthened the conviction that a game is open until the very end. Leaders can foster this attitude by never giving up early. A team adopts what its leadership models.
Champions without a defeat
Situation
Leverkusen finished the Bundesliga with 28 wins, 6 draws and 90 points. No team in the history of the league had managed that before. On 29 March 2024, Alonso had declared that he would stay despite interest from other clubs.
Link to the law
Victory needs unity and clarity. With his commitment, Alonso removed a source of unrest from the final stretch of the season. Leaders protect their team from distraction as it closes in on the goal.
The one defeat
Situation
On 22 May 2024, Leverkusen lost the Europa League final 0–3 to Atalanta Bergamo. That ended the run after 51 competitive matches. Three days later the team won the DFB-Pokal, the German cup, 1–0 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Link to the law
Those who want to win must also be able to lose. What matters is the response to the setback. A leader quickly turns the focus to the next task.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
- Accept the starting position and do not look for excuses.
- Create small wins early that build confidence.
- Deliberately bring in the skills your team lacks.
- Model the belief that anything is possible until the very end.
- Answer a defeat with the next good performance.
Summary
Xabi Alonso led Leverkusen from the relegation zone to the double. He combined clear decisions with an attitude that believes in victory until the last minute. The late goals created momentum, and it carried the team through the season. This is what the Law of Victory looks like in practice.