
In conversation with host Cedric Pick, the currently in-demand specialist for internal medicine talked about the latest developments with the coronavirus pandemic, the latest political decisions at state level plus his wide range of duties at the Werkself. The 57-year-old medic also provided insights into the club’s hygiene protocol, the different testing procedures as well as the handling and chain of action with positive test results as was the case recently with Werkself defender Edmond Tapsoba after his return from international duty.
The Leverkusen-born doctor, who, in addition to his role at Bayer 04, is the director of a group practice in Leverkusen-Quettingen, outs himself in the entertaining dialogue as a longstanding Bayer 04 fan, a supporter of the Werkself from the stands long before he became the club doctor. In his very first season of his employment at the club, which ‘Kalla’ describes as a coincidence, he was able to follow the historic 2002 season first hand with the three runners-up finishes – so defining and indescribable as many short-notice and short overseas trips involved with transfers.
In the entertaining discussion, Karl-Heinrich Dittmar talks about his values, his multifaceted workload, lack of time and his pride in the club’s training and rehab centre the Werkstatt. The father of four not only revealed a great sense of humour but also loads of empathy.
In addition to the opening jingle, the Werks11 podcast also includes other items (including ‘My top 04’, ‘Either...or...’). Other guests speaking are his former boss Reiner Calmund plus former Bayer 04 keeper René Adler who surprise Karl-Heinrich Dittmar with a question.
Moreover: From now, the Werks11 podcast will be available every two weeks. The next episode will be available on Tuesday 15 December.
Just subscribe to the Werks11 podcast to make sure you don’t miss any of the episodes – at Soundcloud, iTunes or Spotify.

Having progressed to the DFB Pokal Round of 16, the Bayer 04 Women do not have much time before their next Bundesliga fixture. On Friday night (18:30 CEST), coach Roberto Pätzold’s side kick off matchday six at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium against Werder Bremen – and they have a clear mission.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career working as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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Bayer 04 host top French club Marseille at the BayArena on matchday four in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League group stage. The match kicks off on Thursday 5 November at 21:00 CET. The latest information on ticket sales.
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During the international break, Bayer 04 will face third-division newcomers SC Fortuna Köln on Friday 2 October (kick-off: 11:00 CEST). The match will be played on training pitch 1 at the BayArena, as preparations are already underway at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for the Bayer 04 women’s Bundesliga home match against Werder Bremen, which is due to kick off in the early evening. To ensure the friendly against Fortuna Köln runs smoothly and without disruption, it will be played behind closed doors.
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