Five reasons that led Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga championship throne

Xabi Alonso is the mastermind behind the miracle, but certainly not the only one

Eighteen months ago, Xabi Alonso sat on Leverkusen's bench. The team was second to last in the table. Now, he has broken Bayern Munich's 11-year championship hegemony in the Bundesliga. What's behind the team's sensational first ever championship title.

Xabi Alonso has had a fantastic career as a player. He's racked up triumphs at Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. And the nickname Mr. Success has also been worn as a coach. Wherever he's gone, the team has blossomed under his leadership.

When he put down his cleats, he was put in charge of Real Madrid's under-14 team. He was responsible for the unprecedented development of the players. Then he returned to San Sebastian, where he grew up. He wasn't going anywhere, he wanted to learn. He managed the reserve team for three years and took them to the Segunda Division. Then he was relegated again, but his reputation grew.

He resisted an offer from Borussia Mönchedlabach, but had a high-five with Bayer Leverkusen representatives. And now he's celebrated his first championship with them. Something no one else has done in the club's 120-year history. He did, and in an impressive way!

He won the championship plate with five rounds to go, an extraordinary feat. Second-placed Bayern Munich Leverkusen escaped with a 5-0 victory over Bremen by an unattainable 16 (!) points.

"We thank all the fans for the support they have given us all season, but we also want the German Cup and the Europa League," Xabi Alonso told the thousands of supporters who flooded the stadium's pitch after the demolition of Bremen.

What brought Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga? It was mainly these five points!