Neverkusen and its German equivalent Vizekusen ("second-kusen") are nicknames for German football team Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[1][2] Both apply to the runners-up image of the team, which from 2000–2002 often found its way into finals but never to the top.[3]

Bayer, 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]

The expressions have had various echoes in the press. In 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]

Some 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]

References

  1. ↑ Soccer and Philosophy: Beautiful Thoughts on the Beautiful Game Ted Richards Open Court Publishing, 8 June 2010
  2. ↑ Soccer Stories: Anecdotes, Oddities, Lore, and Amazing Feats Donn Risolo, University of Nebraska Press, 1 November 2010
  3. ↑ DFB-Wochenschau: Geburtsstunde von "Vizekusen" Birth of Vizekusen according to the DFB
  4. ↑ Markenrecht Bayer Leverkusen schützt "Vizekusen" Archived 15 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine FTD 12 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Die Welt vom 20.05.12: Alptraum dahoam – Vize-Bayern in Schockstarre, viewed 22 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Die Welt, 2012 Vizekusen 2.0, viewed 22 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Bayern München Sag mir, wo die Champions sind Cord Sauer, Stern 22 May 2012.
  8. ↑ Fußball – Zurück und nach vorne – Champions League und EM 2012, Der Wahlberliner, Das Netzmagazin von Alexander Platz
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