It was freezing cold for the first day of the week on the training ground but the sunshine over pitch number one brought one or two smiles to the faces of the Werkself players. The focus on Tuesday was primarily on tackling in tight spaces as well as finishing in the final third.
Head coach Gerardo Seoane had some good news after the training session, which Kerem Demirbay, Paulinho and Niklas Lomb had to miss: Julian Baumgartlinger is expected to return at the start of next week to begin rehab training following his cruciate injury. And Charles Aránguiz is making "good progress" following his calf injury. The Chilean should be able to return in a few days and take some part in full training.
Florian Wirtz is also gaining great recognition in the eSports sector after his impressive year in 2021. The video game company EA Sports recently nominated 80 players from all over the world, "who have been exceptional in the past 12 months." From this pool of players – as is usual at the end of the year – will come the FIFA Team of the Year (TOTY). For the ultimate eleven in the world of football from 2021 there is also a Bayer 04 player to be voted for in Florian Wirtz. Click HEREfor the vote.
The final TOTY will be announced on 22 January. Then special items with some of the highest values in the whole season will be published in the FIFA 22 Ultimate Team.
Finnish sports journalists have again voted the Werkself keeper Lukas Hradecky as their Player of the Year. Our number one, who has been the skipper since the start of the season, received the award for the fifth time in the past six years. The 32-year-old has made 74 international appearances and he took part in the Euros in the summer with Finland who he also captained.
Club legend Jens Nowotny celebrates his 40th birthday on this Tuesday. Jenne played for Karlsruher SC for six years before joining Leverkusen in 1996 where he became an absolute key player under coach Christoph Daum. The defender made 297 appearances for the Black and Reds in ten years. In one of the most significant seasons in the club's history, he led the Werkself as captain in 2001/02 to the DFB Cup final as well as on the #RoadtoGlasgow to the Champions League final. With 48 caps for Germany, Nowotny is now assistant coach for the Germany U18 team. Congratulations and many happy returns.
Daniel Carvajal is now 30 years old. The Spaniard joined Leverkusen from Real Madrid in 2010/11. After one year under the Bayer Cross, the defender then returned to his hometown club where he quickly became a regular starter. The Spain international has made 310 appearances for the Spanish record champions, won the Spanish league title twice, the Champions League four times as well as the Club World Cup. The former Werkself number 20 has described his 12 months in Leverkusen as crucial to his development: "I needed that one year to be able to get a chance at Madrid and come out on top." Many happy returns to you too, Dani.
Bayer 04 also congratulates Leroy Sané – on his 26th birthday this year. The Bayern Munich player has a Leverkusen past just like Nowotny and Carvajal: The midfielder came from the Schalke academy in 2008 to join the Bayer 04 youth section and he stayed for three years. The winger then returned to Gelsenkirchen in 2011 where he progressed to the first team via the U17 and U19 sides.
And the Black and Red birthday list continues: Dario Kresic today celebrates his 38th birthday. The goalkeeper joined Leverkusen from Mainz 05 in the summer of 2014. The Croat made his Bundesliga debut on 14 May 2016 in a 3-2 home win against FC Ingolstadt. The keeper moved on to Omonia Nicosia in the summer of 2016 where he ended his playing career one year later. All the best to you too.
The highly successful and mutually appreciated partnership between Bayer 04 and head coach Xabi Alonso ends after two and a half years. The 43-year-old Spaniard has led the Werkself to three trophies. Above all, winning the first German league title in the club's history will always be associated with the name of Xabi Alonso. The former world class player, who won many hearts in Leverkusen as a person, now says farewell to Bayer 04. We look back at a fantastic time with the Basque who fulfilled the biggest dream of all Bayer 04 fans together with an outstanding team.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreA cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen will be the first Bundesliga club to open and operate a football academy in Brazil. The "Bayer 04 Football Academy São Paulo," led by Bayer 04 club legend Paulo Sérgio, will be established on the Bayer Brazil campus in São Paulo and accommodate up to 300 children and youth ages 5 to 15.
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