While the players in the starting eleven for the home game against VfB Stuttgart began the week with a video analysis session followed by work in the gym at the BayArena, the unused players and subs were on the training ground. The fans at the open training session were only able to see Julian Brandt, Stefan Kießling, Dominik Kohr, Benny Henrichs, Vladlen Yurchenko, Marlon Frey plus the two keepers Ramazan Özcan and Niklas Lomb. Heiko Herrlich and Co. went through a number of crossing and shooting drills with their players.
Wendell worked with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin on the training ground in a one-on-one session following his ankle injury. According to the medical section, Jonathan Tah is also making progress. As with Joel Pohjanpalo (rehab training after ankle injury), the 22-year-old central defender, who suffered a muscle injury to his hip in the game against Dortmund, completed an individual session at the Werkstatt facility in the morning.
Bayer 04 supporters have another two chances to watch the Werkself train this week – on Tuesday and Wednesday (both at 10.30 CET).
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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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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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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