He is a renowned knee specialist: Dr. Philipp Ehrenstein has been a consultant at the Helios Clinic in Krefeld with main responsibility for arthroscopic surgery on shoulders and knees as well as ankles. The focus of his work is on the reconstruction of ligament injuries in the knee joint – including anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments as well as meniscus surgery.
After the Helios group was taken over by St. Josefshospital Uerdingen in Krefeld at the start of the year, the Bayer 04 orthopaedic surgeon has now been appointed doctor in charge of the newly founded sports clinic at the hospital. The doctors for the ice hockey Bundesliga team Krefeld Pinguine and the team doctor of the Germany rowing eights team also work there. We wish Philipp Ehrenstein every success in his additional professional challenge.
During his ten years at Leverkusen, Kai Havertz developed into a top international player – and now he can call himself a Champions League finalist. The Aachen-born player joined Bayer 04 in the summer of 2010 as a talented 11-year-old. After a decade in the Werkself shirt plus numerous records at the club and in the Bundesliga, the star striker joined Chelsea last summer.
Havertz has recently flourished under the German coach Thomas Tuchel and last weekend he scored a brace to give Chelsea a 2-0 home win against Fulham. Wednesday night brought the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. The former Leverkusen player started up front against Real Madrid and crowned his good performance with an assist for Timo Werner who opened the scoring. The London team won the game 2-0 and the first leg in Spain ended all square at 1-1. Havertz and Chelsea now face Manchester City in the Champions League final on 29 May. Congratulations, Kai - now get your hands on the trophy.
Bayer 04 last year produced a 50-minute documentary on the likeable, grounded home-grown player who made the impressive development from a talented lad from Mariadorf into one of the top international players. Germany teammate Tony Kroos, friend and former teammate Julian Brandt, Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes and the two managing directors Rudi Völler and Fernando Carro look back at special moments with and involving Havertz. HERE is the film.
Another competition, the same aim: The former Bayer 04 goalkeeper Bernd Leno (2011 to 2018) is also looking reach a final on the European stage with Arsenal on Thursday night – in the Europa League. The first leg at Villarreal ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat with the away goal giving the London side a good chance of reaching the final in Gdansk (Poland). The match in London kicks off at 21.00 CEST with RTL Nitro broadcasting the game involving Leno and Co. and is also being being shown live by DAZN. Good luck, Bernd.
Hanno Balitsch and Andreas ‘Zecke’ Neuendorf also used to play for Bayer 04 but have now ended their playing careers. Both decided for a move to the dugout. Last year, the former players together with 23 other participants took part in the 67th coaches course at the DFB and they recently celebrated a successful conclusion to the course.
Midfield enforcer Balitsch, since last year assistant coach with the Germany U20s, made 136 appearances for the Werkself. Neuendorf, now assistant coach at Hertha Berlin, played in 65 games for the Black and Reds. Whole-hearted congratulations from Bayer 04.
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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