Kießling set to take up post at Bayer 04
Stefan Kießling is back: The former central striker is due to start work at Bayer 04 with effect from 1 October 2018 as 'sporting management advisor'.
Kießling, who ended his playing career with Bayer 04 in the summer, will take up the post created for him by Rudi Völler providing support to the sporting management and other departments at the club.
This will be the start of a second career at the Werkself for the 34-year-old who made 444 appearances and scored 162 goals for the Black and Reds between 2006 and 2018. "I'm really looking forward to the new job and working in close cooperation with Rudi Völler," said Kießling. "It's extremely exciting to get to know another side of football now."
For Völler, the culmination of the long-held ambition of the Leverkusen hero to embark on a career in club management is, "a good day for us. Hardly anybody else embodies the absolute identification with Bayer 04 more than Stefan Kießling," declared the 1990 World Cup winner. "He'll really get stuck into the job just like he did as player."
Related News
Bundesliga - 21.02.2026
Matchday news #FCUB04: Continue unbeaten run at set-piece specialists Union Berlin
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
Werkself-TV - 20.02.2026
Hjulmand ahead of #FCUB04: ‘We are not naive and will be alert’
After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Show more
Bundesliga - 20.02.2026
Our next opponents: Back on the road to success thanks to united approach
Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Champions League - 19.02.2026
Werkself Review #OLYB04: 'The first step is done'
It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
Show more
