In an in-depth interview, CEO Fernando Carro and new sporting managing director Simon Rolfes talk in detail about their partnership for the first time and reveal which of their opposite number’s characteristics they would like to have. The duo also describe their targets with the Werkself, recall the start of their working together and even make a brave bet in the end.
In the 160 pages, head coach Gerardo Seoane and midfielder Kerem Demirbay also discuss the new season and their particular aims. The Werkself squad is presented in detail, lovers of statistics can discover historic data on Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup as well as competitions on the European stage. Fans can also find out about the Champions League, the Youth League and the Veterans team plus the Bayer 04 eSports squad. Thomas Eichin explains the role of the Mexico tour in the strategy of internationalisation and professionalisation of the Women’s section. The almanac also has a detailed service section.
Moreover: The ‘normal’ Werkself magazine is also part of the service package and it appears four times per year – there is also an additional special edition this season for the start of the Champions League campaign.
You can read up on everything from the world of the Werkself now in the 2022/23 Werkself yearbook. You can also receive a copy by becoming a Club member. Sign up for membership here.
You can also browse all previous editions of the Werkself magazines since the first in the 2015/16 season.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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