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.
Whether it's sport or his private live: Captain Edmond Tapsoba tells us his top three personal favourites in twelve categories in edition #56 of the Werkself Magazine. The defender had to answer as quickly as he reacts on the pitch. 'On the Podium' with Edmond Tapsoba!
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“Year after year, this is an incredibly valuable gathering, both in terms of the content covered and the opportunity for mutual discussion,” stressed Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach David Thiel in his welcoming address at this year’s goalkeeping coaches’ meeting. This was the third time in four seasons that the event had been held at the BayArena. Organised by the German Football Association (DFB), the meeting brought together goalkeeping coaches from the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and the 3rd division from the west region. For the first time this year, goalkeeping coaches from the youth performance centres (NLZ) were also present. Bayer 04 fitness coach Markus Müller provided fascinating insights into the specific fitness training carried out with the Werkself’s goalkeepers.
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A floodlit derby, two further night games and a top-of-the-table clash on a Saturday afternoon: The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed the exact dates for four further matchdays in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. This means all fixtures for the Bayer 04 women’s team up to the end of the year, as well as the first two in 2027, are now confirmed.
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It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and the matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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