27.10.2022Bayer 04

The German School Madrid and Bayer 04: A special connection

The connection to Bayer 04 cannot be missed in the entrance to the German School Madrid: A framed Werkself shirt hangs on the wall visible to all students and visitors. The letters DSM are on the shirt – that stands for Deutsche Schule Madrid. "A gift from the first visit in 2015," remembers Miguel who heads the football section at the school. A small delegation from Leverkusen visited the school on the morning of the Champions League away game for Bayer 04 at Atlético Madrid (2-2). The agenda included a football tournament on the school's artificial pitch.

Fernando Carro and Co. brought 40 Werkself shirts for the football section at the DSM. The Bayer 04 CEO, along with fans and community director Meinolf Sprink, watched the football tournament in the morning. The Bayer 04 members of staff Benjamin Seifert and Carsten Baumann, who used to play professional football, split the kids up into four teams. "The atmosphere is simply brilliant. A really great setting," said Baumann looking at the over 200 school students surrounding the pitch who got behind the lads of the football section from classes six and seven.

headteacher from Leverkusen – signed shirt as a gift

The connection between the German School Madrid and the Werkself opened another chapter in the summer of 2022: Dirk Karl Pilgram was appointed headteacher at the DSM on 1 August - he was born in Leverkusen. He was in the youth section at Bayer 04 for four years as a teenager and he later worked for Bayer AG. Pilgram thanked Carro, Sprink and Co. for their visit: "It's always a special honour for us to be able to welcome you here. And, of course, I'm really happy to welcome my favourite club to Madrid."

The Leverkusen delegation presented Pilgram with another gift following the short tournament: a Werkself shirt signed by all the players and coach Xabi Alonso. "A really cool present," said 11-year-old Noah with a beaming smile. And you can be sure that this shirt will also find a very special place at the German School Madrid…

Related News

Bundesliga - 21.03.2026

Matchday news #FCHB04: Perfect record against bottom side Heidenheim

Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.

Vanessa Fudalla, Claudia Wenger und Vanessa Haim

Women - 20.03.2026

‘Start a run’: Women welcome bottom-placed Jena - special edition ‘50 years of fan clubs’ jersey

The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.

Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | 27. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 20.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #FCHB04: ‘We want to go into the international break feeling good’

Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.

Bundesliga - 20.03.2026

Our next opponents: Will staying up become a mission impossible?

A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.

Women - 19.03.2026

Bayer 04 Women: Caroline Kehrer and Amy Wrigge sidelined

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.