A successful matchday for the Black and Reds: Not only was the result right in the home win against FC Augsburg but the team performance as well as individual displays by the Werkself players can be described as extremely successful. Moussa Diaby, Jeremie Frimpong, Mitchel Bakker, Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz and Lucas Alario were all considered for the top teams across the media.
Diaby received 04 nominations: The Frenchman scored his first hat-trick as a professional player with just four shots in the game against FCA and he was justly rewarded with inclusion in the Team of the Week in BILD, kicker, on the Sportschau and for the DFL. The football magazine kicker gave the hat-trick hero top marks and named him ‘Player of the Matchday’.
Jeremie Frimpong's appearance was marked by inclusion in the BILD, kicker and on the DFL website. With a total of 45 sprints and a top speed of 34.8 kmph, the 21-year-old produced the top stats in the game. He also earned a high 1.5 mark in kicker.
Midfield dynamo Robert Andrich and defender Mitchel Bakker were also considered. In addition, Bakker – like his teammates Diaby Frimpong – was included in the DFL ‘Team of the Week’. The Dutch defender provided the assist for the opener in the Leverkusen goal fest.
The BILD team of the matchday included the two Leverkusen players Lucas Alario and Florian Wirtz in addition to Diaby and Frimpong. The 18-year-old set a personal record of 102 touches of the ball. Carry on, lads.
Patrik Schick has every reason to be happy on his 26th birthday today: The Czech Republic centre forward, at Leverkusen since the summer of 2020, can spend his birthday with his family instead of on the pitch – the Werkself start training on Tuesday this week. Schick can also look back at an impressive record of 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches – no other Bayer 04 player has ever achieved that before at this point in the season. Here’s to further success in a Werkself shirt, Patrik. Enjoy your day and stay fit and healthy.
Black and Red birthday greetings are also sent to Kärnten: Robin Dutt, head coach of the Werkself from July 2011 to April 2012, today celebrates his 57th birthday. The Cologne-born coach has been at the helm of the Austrian club Wolfsberger AC since the summer and they are currently third in Austria's top-flight. Many happy returns to you, too.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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