The 2001–02 season saw Bayer Leverkusen become the second club to finish runners-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the Champions League in the same season after Barcelona in 1986, with a potential treble unravelling in the final couple of weeks of the season, resulting in no trophies won at all, plus the defections of stars Michael Ballack and Zé Roberto to Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen dominated the second half of the Champions League final against Real Madrid, but lost 2–1 due to a volley from Zinedine Zidane in the latter stages of the first interval.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.