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…

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