The call of the mountains
It was to be an active morning for the coaching and support staff plus the other Bayer 04 officials who had travelled to Zell am See. The bus left the team hotel at seven in the morning in the direction of the Kitzbühel Alps. The journey ended at the feet of the Schmittenhöhe at a height of around 900 metres. With backpacks filled with supplies and led by a mountain guide the only way was up for the Werkself – hopefully an appropriate metaphor. The aim was to reach the peak at 2,000 metres - at this point still shrouded in mist. After a four-hour walk, interspersed with stops at one or two mountain huts, the wayfarers of the black and red group reached the top. Exhausted but happy. The group was rewarded with an impressive view of the idyllic Zell am See. "The fact we've come up here with the whole team and all the staff sends out a message. It's not the last summit we need to conquer together," said coach Heiko Herrlich in describing the reason for the activity. For players like the Jamaican Leon Bailey it was a special experience. He'd never climbed a mountain before or been at such a height. Down from the summit, Heiko Herrlich gave his players the rest of the day off – the pros used their time to sleep or spend time in the wellness area at the hotel.
Three birthday boys
Counting the players and coaches together, there were 31 members of the Werkself in Zell am See/Kaprun. Some coincidence that three of them celebrated their birthdays on Friday: Reserve keeper Niklas Lomb was 24, goalkeeping coach David Thiel was born 33 years ago and assistant coach Xaver Zembrod celebrated birthday number 51. At the communal evening meal they were serenaded by the squad and they provided a short response at the request of the team.
Fan meeting in team hotel
70 Werkself fans found their way to the team hotel in the afternoon. They were responding to an invitation from Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade, the director for fans and social affairs Meinolf Sprink and fan liaison officer Frank Linde. After a welcome address from Michael Schade, the travelling Bayer 04 fans were able to enjoy cakes and hot and cold drinks, and chat in the Werkself dining area for a couple of hours.
Reiner Calmund pays a visit
Friday afternoon saw another VIP guest pay a visit to the team hotel Tauern Spa. The former Bayer 04 general manager Reiner Calmund used the opportunity to catch up with old friends and acquaintances – conversational partners included Heiko Herrlich and Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler.
04 questions for Vlad Yurchenko
Our number 22, Vladlen Yurchenko, took time out on Friday to be the next player to answer 04 questions.
#B04inAustria –For all the news and updates
Using the hashtag #B04inAustria it is possible to keep up-to-date with #Werkself and #Bayer 04 round-the-clock. There are also daily, exclusive stories from the heart of the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. It's worth taking a look.
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
Show more
Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
Show more
In the final international break in the current 2025/26 campaign, Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick with Czechia will be battling for a place at the World Cup. Meanwhile, national teams that have already qualified, include other Werkself players called up, are involved in friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. Read on for an overview of the Leverkusen internationals and their match dates.
Show more
The Werkself kicked off the final international break of the current season on Monday morning with the first of three open training sessions this week. While eleven Bayer 04 players will be away on international duty in the coming days, the other players will be working together in Leverkusen. The next challenge in the Bundesliga awaits on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg.
Show more
