
Bayer 04 members can look forward to receiving the newly printed Werkself yearbook in the next few days as the first and exclusive recipients. For the 2021/22 season, this publication again provides an all-round view of the Black and Reds: The magazine contains presentations of the Bayer 04 teams plus comprehensive statistics and a detailed interview with the new Werkself head coach Gerardo Seoane.
At bayer04.de you can also browse through all previous Werkself Magazines from the first edition from the 2015/16 season.
The world of football is mourning the loss of the one-time world class striker Gerd Müller. The Nordlingen-born player scored 523 goals in a 580 games for Bayern Munich between 1964 and 1979 and he also scored 68 goals in 62 games for Germany. 'Der Bomber' passed away on Sunday at the age of 75.
Rudi Völler paid Müller his respects like many other greats of football. The Bayer 04 sporting managing director said: "Gerd Müller was one of the greatest goalscorers of all time, not just in Germany but worldwide. Of course, he was a role model for me as a striker. It's a sad day for football, Gerd's achievements will never be forgotten."
Two Werkself players with strong memories and steady hands: During the training camp in Salzburger Land, Julian Baumgartlinger and Lukas Hradecky played a game of Jenga. While the stalwarts skilfully manoeuvred the pieces out of the tower, they also indulged in a humorous round of ‘I'll pack my bag.’ What the pair came up with besides a wetsuit, Kevin Volland and a kaleidoscope of other mad things can be seen on the club's Bayer 04 YouTube channel. HERE is the video.
Under the motto 'Help after the flood: The football benefit match', numerous former players came together for a benefit event at the Mosel Stadium in Trier a few days ago. That included former Leverkusen players Jens Nowotny, Philipp Wollscheid, Lukas Sinkiewicz and Thomas Zdebel. Including a group donation from the DFB Egidius Braun and Sepp Herberger foundations, €750,000 had been raised shortly after the game for the victims of the flood disaster in Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.
A trio from the Black and Red club history celebrated their birthdays on Monday: Wilhelm 'Willi' Gierlich (1955-57 at Bayer 04) was 89 years old, Horst Knauf (1978-83) is 61. The third is Klaus Meul who played for the Werkself in the 1979 Bundesliga promotion team. The defender was 64 years old today. Bayer 04 wish all three: Many happy returns.

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 4-0 win at Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal 2026/27...
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Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
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Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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