
Fernando Carro, chairman of the board, explained the move: "We are separating the two business divisions of marketing/distribution and communication to increase the effectiveness of each individual discipline." The complexity of the tasks in these two areas has grown enormously in the times of digitisation and internationalisation of football, and Carro added. "We want to stay abreast of these developments and Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the services of proven experts for these positions in Bernd Schröder and Holger Tromp."
After four years at Bayer 04, Jochen A. Rotthaus now sees "the time has come for a change in career. I would like to start something new, renew my passion for marketing, management, consultancy and leadership and, above all, contribute my many years of experience and networks," said Rotthaus.
Holger Tromp has worked in sports communication at home and abroad for 15 years including for the international tennis governing body ATP from 2004 to 2008. The 46-year-old was also director of media and communication at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim from 2011 to 2014 enabling him to gain management experience in the Bundesliga. For the past four years Tromp was a media adviser to management, clubs and associations in sport including Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Dr. Bernd Schröder was chairman of the board at Christ jewellers and watchmakers from 2013 to 2017. Before that, the graduate economist worked in different management positions for the Bertelsmann group including the running of various international membership clubs for many years. Schröder spent three years as managing director of the Lagardère group. The 52-year-old from Münster founded a platform for company building this year with partners and he has also been involved in several start-ups.

At the request of Bayer 04, Jochen A. Rotthaus will continue to be available to the club as an adviser after the end of his contract up to the end of 2019 as he takes up new professional challenges. Fernando Carro: "Jochen Rotthaus has established important milestones in the area of the internationalisation strategy of Bayer 04 as a global football brand." Carro added Rotthaus was responsible for the successful positioning of the Bayer 04 digital media platform and played a significant role in negotiations on the new marketing contract with Lagardère Sports. "Bayer 04 Leverkusen thank Jochen A. Rotthaus for his commitment and wishes him every success for his future after Bayer 04.“

Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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Bayer 04 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. The design, developed by kit supplier New Balance, combines the city’s colours with symbols that have defined Leverkusen and Bayer 04 for generations.
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Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Montrell Culbreath for the start of the 2026/27 season. The forward injured his foot injury in yesterday’s preseason friendly against Spanish top-flight side Sevilla (2–1), which rules him out of action for the time being. Culbreath’s diagnosis is not yet complete; further examinations are to follow in the coming days.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
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