Rudi Völler continues to feel a close bond with his home town in Hessen even after over 40 years in France, Italy and the Rhineland. Not least because of that reason, the 60-year-old was particularly affected a year ago by the terror attack in Hanau.
For the anniversary on 19 February, the local authority decided to restrict the size of the memorial event due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the Congress Park, Germany's Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Hessen's Minister-President Volker Bouffier will be joined by Rudi Völler, a freeman of the city of Hanau since 2002. Bayer 04 also pay tribute to the nine victims of the racist attack one year ago.
Bayer 04 we're on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline on Thursday night in the first leg of the Europa League knockout tie at BSC Young Boys. After a first half described by head coach Peter Bosz as "very bad" with a deficit of 3-0 at the break, there was a Black and Red comeback in the second half: The Werkself got back on equal terms at 3-3 in less than 20 minutes. Niklas Lomb and Co. did concede the fourth goal just before the final whistle but the statistics after 90 minutes are on the side of the visitors from Leverkusen:
For more than eleven years, the Robert Enke Foundation (RES) has worked on research into and the treatment of depression. The educational project of 'Robert Enke Foundation on tour' has seen RES visit Leverkusen a number of times. And the project is continuing even during the coronavirus pandemic on a digital basis.
Through the project, the Foundation provides an information platform for interested parties and those affected to find out more about the illness of depression and appropriate support. Bayer 04 fans have the opportunity to make contact with a member of the foundation via an online platform on Saturday 20 February from 11.00 to 15.00 CET. Further information is available HERE.
At the age of nine, Christoph Kramer joined the Bayer 04 youth section from BV Gräfrath. Born in Solingen, he was at Leverkusen for six years before moving on to Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2006. The defensive midfielder returned to Kurtekotten after two seasons to join the U19 squad and then the first team. Kramer 'only' made 28 appearances in the top-flight for Bayer 04 due to loan periods at VfL Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach. He almost joined the Foals in 2016 where he has played since.
The 2014 World Cup winner has been an established Bundesliga player for many years and has already made over 200 appearances. Kramer is 30 years old today (Friday). Bayer 04 wish many happy returns to our former youth player.
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
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