Despite recording an identical league record to the previous season, Leverkusen dropped to 7th, the first time they had failed to qualify for Europe in five seasons. Michael Skibbe was sacked as a result, and was replaced by Greuther Fürth manager Bruno Labbadia.
^Freier was born in Bytom, Poland, but was raised in Germany from the age of 11 and represented Germany at U-21 level before making his international debut for Germany in May 2002.
^Sinkiewicz was born in Tychy, Poland, but also qualified to represent Germany internationally and represented Germany at U-19 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Germany in September 2005.
^Castro was born in Wuppertal, West Germany)(now Germany), and represented Germany at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Spain internationally through his parents and represented Spain at U-19 level before making his international debut for Germany in March 2007.
^Faty was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Cape Verde and Senegal internationally through his mother and father respectively and made his international debut for Senegal in 2012.
^Touré was born in Sokodé, Togo, but also qualified to represent Germany internationally and represented Germany at U-18 level before making his international debut for Togo in 2006.
Michael Skibbe
