The FCSA was founded in 2007 by the charitable and independent foundation Scort, which is based in Switzerland. The network brings professional football clubs together to enable them to make a sustainable commitment to development aid. Bayer 04 has worked for many years in crisis areas and regions formerly affected by conflict.
This includes the Werkself starting 13 international projects with different modules. For example, a number of Bayer 04 coaches have worked with youth coaches in Uganda, Colombia, Vietnam and Tanzania since 2009 where they were able to share their knowledge with 726 newly trained coaches who were then able to pass that on to children and teenagers locally.
Marc-Andre Buchwalder, CEO of the Scort Foundation/Football Club Social Alliance, said: "The alliance has developed football as a sustainable instrument of development and Bayer 04 has been an integral part of this partnership for over 10 years. Thousands of young coaches in areas of conflict have benefited from their expertise and they then had a positive influence through sport on another 100,000 children. Thank you Bayer 04, thank you Leverkusen and we wish you lots of success in the Europa League."
Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04, also endorses the extension to the partnership with the FCSA: "It is very close to our hearts here at Bayer 04 to be able to provide the best possible support in areas of conflict and pass on our expertise to the young coaches locally."
On the Scort Foundation:
The Scort Foundation is a charitable, politically and religiously independent foundation based in Switzerland. They are committed to the area of 'sport for development' where sport is used as a medium to achieve different health, social and locally relevant targets. Through the development and implementation of training projects in crisis areas and regions formerly affected by conflict, Scort supports young adults who can act as community leaders in their societies. The Scort Foundation is also a partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Against this background, the Scort Foundation founded the Football Club Social Alliance (FCSA) in 2007. Together with Scort, the FCSA trains young adults to be children's football coaches in areas of crisis and former conflict. In their position as coaches, they can have a positive effect on the lives of countless children as role models and direct contacts.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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