Patrick Helmes scored 28 goals in 57 Bundesliga games for Bayer 04 between 2008 and 2011. After injury forced him to end his playing career in 2015, the central striker became a coach. Helmes returned to Leverkusen as youth coach in 2018 to train the U15s. The now 36-year-old is moving on to the Alps this summer. Just outside Vienna, Helmes, who also played for Germany during his time at the Werkself (23 caps), will be assistant to head coach Zvonimir Soldo as well as youth coach for the Austrian top-flight club FC Flyeralarm Admira.
On Saturday, 11 July, Bayer 04 distributed the T-shirts placed on the seats at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for the DFB Cup final against FC Bayern free of charge to 3,500 fans at the BayArena via a drive-in system. Over 12,000 shirts were handed out and, in return, the supporters donated the considerable sum of €6,516.35 to the Reuschenberg Wildlife Park in Leverkusen. Bayer 04 would like to thank everyone who donated.
The German Football Association (DFB) have announced the first details for next seasons DFB Cup. The draw for the first round (11 to 14 September) will be made on 26 July, "to enable amateur clubs to make detailed plans for the venues," said the DFB. The draw will be broadcast live on ARD.
Participants from the state associations will not be known by the time of the draw as the majority of the teams in the amateur sector remain to be confirmed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state finals day for the amateurs is set for 22 August. By the middle of August, all of the participating amateur clubs must inform the DFB of possible home venues for the first round ties and also present agreed hygiene protocols to the relevant authorities.
DFB Cup dates 2020/21:
First round: 11 to 14 September
Second round: 22/23 December
Round of 16: 2/3 February 2021
Quarter-finals: 2/3 March 2021
Semi-finals: 1/2 May 2021 (subject to later confirmation)
Final: 13 May 2021
After the Bundesliga restart, Bayer 04 reacted in the area of catering to the changed circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. That involved the Bundesliga club – based on the hygiene protocol of the DFL – supplying the few journalists permitted access to the BayArena with lunch packages, which has inspired the Süddeutsche Zeitung to compose a short message of praise. "At Leverkusen, the bags were so full they could have fed a family of four," wrote the SZ. "There were sandwiches, rissoles, fruit, chocolate bars and a biscuit that was as big as a cake."
The route for the Werkself to a possible Europa League final in Cologne has been known since Friday, 10 July. UEFA completed the draw in Nyon in Switzerland. After the 3-1 away win in the Round of 16 first leg at Glasgow Rangers, Bayer 04 are in with a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals. The opponents would be Getafe or Inter Milan. The two top South European teams are completing their Round of 16 tie in one game as the first leg in March fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover: Both Getafe (19.30 CET at Deportivo Alavés) as well as Inter (21.45 CET against Torino) are playing on Monday night – both games are live on DAZN. Assessing the opposition can begin…
This cheerful soul is celebrating his birthday: The former Leverkusen youth player and Werkself first teamer Danny da Costa is 27 years old today (Monday). Born in Neuss, he signed for Bayer 04 as a youth player from Winfriedia Mülheim. In 2012, he went out on loan to FC Ingolstadt before signing a permanent deal with the club from Upper Bavaria in 2014. After playing for Leverkusen again in 2016/17, da Costa has been at Eintracht Frankfurt for the past three years. Bayer 04 wish Danny a very happy birthday!
After just two points from their last four games, the situation has become trickier for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the bottom third of the table. Only three points separate the Foals from the relegation play-off spot. Coach Eugen Polanski's team is under pressure ahead of the home game against the Werkself on Saturday, 7 February (kick-off: 18:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Calling all eSports fans: On Saturday, 21 February (from 16:00 CET), the Werkself Wildcard Cup will take place at XPERION Köln (Hansaring 97, 50670 Cologne). Interested EA FC 26 amateur players will have the opportunity to win attractive prizes and a place in the VBL Open Play-offs by WOW. The play-offs are the final preliminary stage of the VBL Grand Final by WOW, the tournament for the German individual championship and, alongside the club championship (VBL CC), the most important sub-competition in the German eSports scene. Read on for information on registration.
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At its first general meeting on 5 February 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, the Frauen Bundesliga FBL e.V. made key decisions regarding the future direction of the Women’s Bundesliga. The meeting was based on the results of the negotiations with the German Football Association (DFB) over the past few weeks.
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Another efficient performance from the Werkself in the 3-0 home win against FC St. Pauli saw them reach the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third time in a row, and it was not the only record set on what was a successful evening. It meant head coach Kasper Hjulmand was delighted to "still be in with the chance of winning something". Like the coach, however, the ambitious Edmond Tapsoba also stated that he wanted to keep "improving" bit by bit: "We'll continue to give our all, no matter who we come up against." The Werkself review of the clash.
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