Bayer 04 have engaged Heiko Herrlich as the new head coach. The 45-year-old has agreed a contract to 30 June 2019. Herrlich, who took Jahn Regensburg from the Regional League to the second division within 18 months, will start working at Leverkusen at the start of July for the pre-season ahead of the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign.
Sporting director Rudi Völler sees Herrlich as "a very ambitious coach focussed on winning who not only demonstrated his abilities at Regensburg – including the two play-off games against and nominally stronger team in 1860 Munich,". Völler added: "He favours attractive, aggressive and mobile football and a style of play that comes very close to our approach. We are certain that we will be able to make progress next season with our squad that we will amend together with Heiko. That will follow our long-term practice at Bayer 04 of working with players capable of developing."
"In Heiko Herrlich we have brought in a young and yet very experienced coach," said Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade, "who also has a Leverkusen past as he started his playing career with us in 1989. He spent four years at the club and was in the team that won the DFB Cup in 1993 – his absolute identification with Bayer 04 was perceptible at all times in our discussions."
For Herrlich, who won the Champions League and two German league titles as a player and also worked as head coach at VfL Bochum and SpVgg Unterhaching, saw the offer from the Werkself as "a fantastic opportunity to return to the Bundesliga as a coach and at the place where I made my start as a pro. Bayer 04 are one of the most successful German teams of the past 20 years, enjoy an excellent reputation in Europe and are also considered to be a very innovative club. It's a great feeling to be back here and to take over responsibility for a team that is extremely talented and ambitious. In the coming season we want to achieve the maximum possible and return to the top group in the league."
Bayer 04 Women end their record-breaking season away at Wolfsburg on Sunday (kick-off: 2pm CEST). Although the Werkself know they will finish the campaign in fourth for their best-ever finish, head coach Roberto Pätzold has called on his team to produce one final big result.
Show moreBayer 04 Women will be without Caroline Kehrer and Charlotte Voll for the remainder of the season. Striker Kehrer suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training, while goalkeeper Voll tore the syndesmosis in her right foot.
Show moreBayer 04 are again strongly represented in this year's Bundesliga Team of the Season from the games manufacturer EA Sports. Five Werkself players have been voted into the top XI for the 2024/25 season, a duo from the Bayer 04 Women's team are in the female Bundesliga TOTS. Bayer 04 were well represented last season with six male players in the top eleven, the most players from one club.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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