The promotion heroes of 1979 kick-off this black and red weekend. Nearly all members of the team around World Cup winner Dieter Herzog, Fred Bockholt, Jürgen Gelsdorf and Thomas Hörster will be there when celebrations begin in the VIP area at the BayArena at 19.04 CET. An entertaining programme has been put together by Rüdiger Vollborn and Dirk Dreher with historic video and photographic material plus interviews bringing the promotion season and the first years in the Bundesliga to life. A journey through time in the 1970s and 1980s that no Bayer 04 supporter should miss.
Tickets for 'Promotion Day' are available now for five euros (including free drink) from the Bayer 04 Fan Liaison (Bayer 04 Fan House, Breidenbachstraße 46, 51373 Leverkusen) and from 16.00 CET at the home game for the Werkself against Eintracht Frankfurt (5 May, 18.00 CET) from the fan container. Each ticket sold helps to support the 'Kreative Schwarz Rot' club that implements and finances creative ideas for the Leverkusen fans with choreography for example.
While the team under head coach Peter Bosz are battling for important points to qualify for Europe in the match against FC Schalke 04 on 11 May, there will be supporting events on the day of the match celebrating '40 years Bundesliga under the Bayer Cross'.
In March the club called on fans to vote online for the best players over the course of time in the Bundesliga. 12,000 votes were cast and the outcome was the Bundesliga All-Stars – 40 players plus 5 coaches who have all been invited to Leverkusen for the weekend by the management at Bayer 04. Ahead of kick-off, players like Bernd Schneider, Ulf Kirsten, Zé Roberto, Dimitar Berbatov and Bum-kun Cha plus coaching legends Christoph Daum, Klaus Toppmöller and Erich Ribbeck will be honoured in the stadium. The programme of events including a special shirt, and historic matchday magazine and different entertainments will show on 11 May that it is no ordinary matchday at Bismarckstraße.
Experience the history of the club first hand. On Sunday 12 May, fans of the Werkself can meet their heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow – at the 'Tradition Day' in and around the BayArena. The doors at the BayArena open at 09.30 CET.
The first highlight is a match involving the Bundesliga All-Stars at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Werkself legends play each other from 10.00 CET. While the All-Stars are toiling on the turf, visitors can make use of the Food & Drink stalls and try out the different games on offer. The West area of the BayArena will be open from 11.30 CET. Fans have the chance to see the press conference room, the VIP areas the Mixed Zone and also get on the team bus. The Bundesliga All-Stars, the promotion heroes of 1979 and members of the current team will be available at different points to talk to fans, sign autographs or pose for photos. The programme will be rounded off with a range of interviews conducted by legend stadium announcer Günter Maczkowiak and his successors Klaus Schenkmann, Pitti Dahl and Tobias Ufer on the stage in the Piazza and at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
Tickets (one euro each) for the 'Tradition Day' are available now (Bayer 04 ticket web shop, by phone on 0049 (0)214 5000 1904 or in person from the Bayer 04 shops).
The historical background
Bayer 04 Leverkusen finally reached their target on 30 May 1979. A 3-3 draw with Bayer 05 Uerdingen ensure promotion to Germany's top flight for the team coached by Willibert Kremer. The first Bundesliga campaign started on 11 August 1979 with an away game at Bayern Munich. Bayer 04 have been in the top division since that day – in addition the Werkself only by Munich and Borussia Dortmund share that claim.
Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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One ticket, two matches – and a varied programme of events, including appearances by players from the professional teams: Bayer 04 has come up with something very special for the 2026 season launch on Saturday, 8 August. From morning right through to the evening, Werkself fans can use just one ticket to not only enjoy top-class football from the Bayer 04 teams live, but also to experience unforgettable moments with the whole family through a variety of hands-on activities around the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The day will also end on a real high note: after both matches, Bayer 04 supporters will have the opportunity to interact directly with the players during joint activities and get to know them from a different angle.
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