Bayer 04 Leverkusen had a shocking season, in which it went from being in the final of the UEFA Champions League the previous season, to finish 15th in Bundesliga, only just escaping relegation to the second tier. It also went out of the Champions League in the second group stage, not even clinching a single point.
^Baştürk was born in Herne, West Germany, but also qualified to represent Turkey internationally and made his international debut for Turkey in 1998.
^Neuville was born in Locarno, Switzerland, but also qualified to represent Italy and Germany internationally through his mother and father respectively and made his international debut for Germany in September 1998.