The current Werkself captain Lars Bender has been loyal to the Black and Reds for nearly eleven years and his brother Sven signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. Born in Rosenheim and raised in Brannenburg, they have played 420 games for Bayer 04 to date and are absolutely key players in the Bayer 04 defence. How are the Bender brothers spending their birthday? On the pitch, of course.
Training in small groups was on the agenda today for the Werkself and the two birthday boys. Against the background of the coronavirus pandemic, the teammates shared their congratulations with the necessary distancing. Bayer 04 wish the duo happy birthday, health and fitness and a quick return to playing for the club.
Knut Reinhardt is 52
In addition to the Benders, Knut Reinhardt also celebrated his birthday. After nine years with the local Leverkusen club TuS 05 Quettingen, he joined the Bayer 04 youth section in 1977. Born in the Hilden, he progressed through all be Black and Red youth teams to the Reserves. Reinhardt made 141 appearances for the Werkself, scoring seven goals. In 1991, the midfielder moved on from Bayer 04 to Borussia Dortmund and in 2001 he ended his playing career. Reinhardt became a primary school teacher and in 2017 he published his autobiography 'Wenn Fußball Schule macht: Mein Weg vom Fußballprofi zum Lehrer' (When football teaches a lesson: My path from football player to teacher). Today the former Werkself player celebrates his 52nd birthday. Bayer 04 wishes happy birthday and stay safe, Knut.
Chicharito mourns the loss of his grandfather
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, at Bayer 04 from 2015 to 2017, mourns the loss of his grandfather. The former player, Tomás Balcázar, has passed away at the age of 88. His club Chivas Guadalajara made the announcement on Sunday. The former striker, who visited the Werkself along with Chicharito's father at the training camp in Orlando in January 2017 (see photo), played for Mexico in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland and he scored a goal in the game against France (2-3). Balcázar played for Chivas from 1949 to 1958 and later became assistant coach.
Info on ticket refunds
In the battle against coronavirus, the federal and state heads of government have forbidden all large-scale events until at least 31 August 2020. The order also applies to football matches played in front of spectators. Bayer 04 Leverkusen have therefore decided not to resume ticket sales for this season. Instead, anyone who has purchased a ticket can now apply to have the cost of the tickets refunded. Or Bayer 04 will donate the value of the match tickets to two charitable organisations.
Your club – Golden Moments
The pay-TV broadcaster Sky is portraying club life of the Bundesliga clubs in a 'Your club' series during the coronavirus pandemic, Sky has announced. This will also include Golden Moments at Bayer 04. There will be a trip down memory lane for the Black and Red player with the most Bundesliga appearances Rüdiger Vollborn as well as Ulf Kirsten and Stefan Kießling. The one hour programme is available for all Sky customers in Germany.
A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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In keeping with the current freezing temperatures, Bayer 04 has heavily discounted numerous winter items – from cozy hats and sporty matchday clothing to stylish fleece and winter jackets.
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The fourth showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 starts for the Leverkusen eSports team today, Thursday 22 January (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel and on the Bayer 04 app from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Reds will once again compete with six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round in Berlin on 2 February at the fourth showdown. The lowdown on our next three opponents in the online preliminary round.
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A month on from the last match of the old year, the Werkself also play the first game of the new year in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Roberto Pätzold's side open Matchday 15 with the meeting at promoted side 1. FC Union Berlin on Friday (18:30 CET).
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