Head coach Gerardo Seoane welcomed 23 players to the training ground on Wednesday morning. After the players in the starting line-up went through a recovery session yesterday, everybody was on the training ground this morning. And there was particularly good news: Captain Lukas Hradecky, who was up to now in self-isolation, was able to rejoin his teammates in training again for the first time today.
The DFL vote for EA SPORTS Player of the Month for January is open today – Werkself player Moussa Diaby is included with his hat-trick in the match against FC Augsburg (5-1) standing out. In addition to the France international, also up for the vote are Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller (both FC Bayern), Patrick Wimmer (Arminia Bielefeld), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig).
The #BundesligaPOTM is decided by 40% votes from fans, 30% from clubs and 30% from pundits. You can vote for Moussa HERE.
Gerardo Seoane was not only able to welcome his players to the training ground today but also a birthday boy: His assistant coach Alberto Encinas today celebrates his 40th birthday. The Spanish coach joined Leverkusen from Barcelona at the start of the season where he had been assistant coach for the U19 team since 2017 as well as the Barca second team coach.
Andreas Neuendorf also celebrated his birthday today as he turned 47. 'Zecke' played for the Werkself from 1994 to 1997 as well as 2000 to 2001 before the Berlin-born player returned to his hometown club Hertha Berlin. Neuendorf was the assistant to Pal Dardai at Hertha up to matchday 13.
Many happy returns also to Angelos Charisteas, who is 42 today. The Greek player was signed on loan from FC Nürnberg in 2009. He made 16 appearances scoring two goals and in that year was with the Black and Reds in the DFB Cup final.
Bayer 04 also remember Rinus Michels today. The Dutchman was the Werkself head coach from July 1988 to April 1989 for a total of 31 games. Michels passed away in 2005 and he would have been 94 today.
Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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