Referee Tobias Stieler is in charge of the Rhine derby between FC Köln and the Werkself on Wednesday 16 December (kick-off: 20.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werks11 Radio). The lawyer from Hamburg has refereed 20 games involving the Black and Reds to date with Bayer 04 winning 16 of them (two draws). Stieler showed 20 yellow cards in those games and sent one Werkself player off for two yellow card offences.
A successful start for the 'Bayer 04 surgery': Virtual meetings have become commonplace since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In these times where face-to-face meetings with more than one person in a room are to be avoided, this is a helpful alternative – which the Bayer 04 fan liaison section also sees as important. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, and Meinolf Sprink (director of fans/community) recently held a remote discussion with Werkself fans on current issues relating to Bayer 04. In the coming months there will be other surgeries with Werkself supporters, different hosts and different subjects.
For the thirteenth time, the Leverkusen community foundation have carried out their 'Sterntaler' event. The aim is to provide joy to children and aged persons in the city. Staff and players from Bayer 04 have again taken part in the project this year and fulfilled the wishes of 134 Sterntaler. "It's a matter close to our hearts every year and it goes without saying that we are happy to participate in the 'Sterntaler' event to show our commitment to the local community," said Meinolf Sprink, director of fans/community at Bayer 04.
As announced by the German Football League (DFL) on Wednesday, the transfer window in Germany will be open from 2 January to 1 February. Winter signings can only be played from matchday 15 (8 to 11 January). The DFL will only issue a players permit if the relevant player can demonstrate they have the required number of negative coronavirus tests according to the pandemic level.
The Werkself return in the New Year on Saturday 2 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET) with a Bundesliga away fixture at Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 14.
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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