
Two issues were particularly important to us in designing the new website: We wanted it be more manageable and easier to navigate. Nothing is more annoying than having to repeatedly click to get through to the desired content. The design of our website is therefore based on a derivation of the so-called Atomic Design.
It structures the individual sites (hubs) in vertically organised sections and elements. In turn, that enables flexible handling of functional areas in the background. That means additional pages can be created quicker and easier.
That has enabled us to significantly reduce the click depth. That means you get to where you want to go to much quicker – without diversions and hurdles.
The hamburger menu ensures greater clarity in the header section that contains all the relevant pages. That makes our website look tidier and provides plenty of space for what’s really important to us: large photos, full-screen image slider and Lightbox galleries. Attractively designed statistics and tables. Animated news elements. And, as football is full of emotion, we want to appeal to you in that way.
In contrast to current design trends with many websites, which are more neutral and with a scarcely differentiated look, we consciously used existing graphical elements like bars, lines, fonts and colours contained in our corporate design. We place great value on a consistent, clearly identifiable, visual appearance in Black and Red. That can be on our website, on our App, in the Shop or in the Werks11 magazine, either in terms of content or visually: We want Bayer 04 to be palpable and to come alive – with our unique, personal tone.

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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