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.
It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
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“They stuck with us over the past few weeks when things weren’t going so well,” said captain Edmond Tapsoba, thanking the fans for their support after the 2–1 win in Cologne and dedicating the derby victory to them. Throughout the 90 minutes, the Werkself had looked unfazed and in command, inflicting the first home defeat of the season on FC Köln. It was the sixth consecutive win against the Cologne team for Bayer 04 – head coach Carles Martínez, on the other hand, was facing the team from the neighbouring city for the first time and “now really knows what this derby win means”. The Werkself derby review.
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Following the 2–1 derby victory away at FC Köln on Bundesliga matchday 9, Edmond Tapsoba, Malik Tillman and Aleix Garcia spoke to Werkself TV...
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-1 derby win at 1. FC Köln Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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There were celebrations among those in black and red at the RheinEnergieSTADION. On Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, the Werkself beat 1. FC Köln 2-0 and registered their sixth successive win in the derby. Aleix Garcia put Bayer 04 in front after just seven minutes with a direct free kick. Leverkusen played with discipline and energy after that and didn't allow some fierce challenges to unsettle them. Patrik Schick made it 2-0 in the 86th minute, and Said El Mala's goal in stoppage time for Köln proved nothing more than consolation. Jonas Hofmann crowned the derby win with his 100th appearance for the club.
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