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NeverkusenNeverkusen and its German equivalent Vizekusen (German: [ˌfiːtsɐˈkuːzn̩], lit. 'vice-kusen') were nicknames for German football team Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[1][2] BackgroundBoth Neverkusen and Vizekusen apply to the runners-up image of Bayer Leverkusen. From 2000–2002, Leverkusen often found its way into finals, but never to the top (only achieved in 2023–24 Bundesliga). It was often alleged to have been a curse due to its frequency.[3] Club responseBayer, the company owning the team, has issued a trademark on Vizekusen and others which the German Financial Times has claimed as proof of a Bayer marketing strategy to use the ironic elements.[4] Other applicationsOutside Leverkusen's context, the expressions have had various echoes in the press. Bayern MunichIn case of Bayern Munich's three final defeats in the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2012, the press used expressions like "Vizekusen-Syndrome", "Vizekusen 2.0",[5][6] or Vizekusen-stigmata and a fear of having them stuck.[7] Germany national teamSome concerns about a Vizekusen curse were raised before the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2012 as an important number of players in the national team came from Leverkusen or Bayern respectively.[8] Germany lost both competitions, reaching the finals in the 2002 World Cup before being eliminated by champions Brazil. Breaking of the curseThe "curse" was finally broken in the 2023–24 season, when Leverkusen won its title. The season saw Leverkusen break the record for the longest unbeaten run in European football history, going 51 games unbeaten, as well as finishing the Bundesliga season without a single defeat. This has led to the creation of a new nickname for the team, Neverlusen (a play on the words "never losing"). Leverkusen won a domestic treble (Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and DFL-Supercup) in 2024. However, when Leverkusen were about to finish their 23/24 season unbeaten, they were beaten by Atalanta 0-3 in the Europa League final.[9][10][11] References
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