Back
4.05.2022Youth

Runge takes charge of U17s – Continuity with U19 coaching staff

Preparations for the 2022/23 season are in full swing in the youth section at Bayer 04. Decisions have been made in terms of coaching staff. The Spaniard Sergi Runge moves up from assistant to head coach of the U17 team in the summer while there are no personnel changes in the U19s. The only new signing amongst the youth coaches is Yannick Lamberz from Fortuna Düsseldorf who will take charge of the U12 squad.
crop_20220302_FS_SERGIRUNGE_30096.jpg

Continuity in the head coach role with the oldest youth team: Sven Hübscher, working under the Bayer Cross for the past 18 months, will again be responsible for the Leverkusen U19 team next season, his assistant coach is Markus Daun. The Hübscher team missed out by just one goal in the semi-finals of the U19 German championships last weekend. Bayer 04 finished third in the U19 Bundesliga West.

Walther is new U17 FItness coach

The U17 team will have a new head coach for the 2022/23 season: The Spaniard Sergi Runge, who speaks fluent German and is currently the assistant coach of the team, now takes charge of the Bayer 04 U17 squad. "Sergi has made a very good impression on recent months. He has quickly settled in to his new role and he has everything required to be the coach in charge," said Thomas Eichin, head of the Youth and Women's teams at Bayer 04.

Runge came to Leverkusen at the beginning of March from the world famous Barcelona academy. The 28-year-old was assistant coach of the U16 side at the top Spanish club. Before that, Runge was assistant coach of the first team and head coach of the U17s at the top Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelnse.

In addition to assistant coach Thomas Zdebel, Runge will have a new fitness coach from the summer: Philipp Walther joined Leverkusen from the Fortuna Düsseldorf U17s. The Fortuna U17s qualified for the semi-finals of the German Championships last season with the 28-year-old in charge of fitness.

Coaching line-up for 2022/23:

U19: Sven Hübscher, Markus Daun

U17: Sergi Runge, Thomas Zdebel

Academy team/U16: Benjamin Adam, TBA

U15: Mirko Casper, Marvin Schmitz

U14: Pierre de Wit, Fritz Vosen

U13: Erdal Celik, Marco Walter

U12: Yannick Lamberz, Dominik Kepper

U11: Alexander Nuss, Achim Gödde

U10: Sebastian Lang, René Färber

U9: Tim Molowitz​, TBA

U8: Jürgen Haagmans, Mark Fuldauer, Dennis Sartory

 

Related News

crop_20261015_EL_LPOB04_MD_0206.jpg
Europa League - 15.10.2026

Follow the Werkself’s trip to Poznan ✈️🇵🇱

Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…

Show more
Patrik Schick und Co. jubeln in Posen
Europa League - 15.10.2026

4–0 at Lech Poznan – Werkself extend winning run on European stage

Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.

Show more
Jan Conradi bei der Torwarttrainer-Fortbildung
Youth - 15.10.2026

Zonal defence: Goalkeeping coach training course at the BayArena

Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #LPOB04
Europa League - 15.10.2026

Matchday news #LPOB04: First-ever game against Polish champions

A first for the Werkself: Today, Thursday 15 October (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), Bayer 04 face Lech Poznan for the first time on matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League group. Although the Black and Reds have a flawless record against the only Polish opposition faced before, they must not underestimate the attacking ability and goal-scoring threat of the reigning champions from Poznan. Lech’s squad also includes two former Bundesliga players. Today's matchday news.

Show more