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

Abdoulaye Faye
Bayer 04 - 03.08.2026

Bayer 04 extend Abdoulaye Faye contract – loan move to Celta Vigo

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.

Show more
crop_20260802_JS_Trainingslager_Tag1_1698.jpg
Bayer 04 - 02.08.2026

Day 1 blog: Barista course and golf to relax before work | Training camp in Weimarer Land

The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme on day one (Sunday 2 August) includes a media round with managing director sport Simon Rolfes, free time for the team after the friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen and before an intensive week of training begins, as well as a coffee get-together where CEO Fernando Carro and Rolfes met around 100 fans in the afternoon.

Show more
Kerim Alajbegovic
Bayer 04 - 02.08.2026

Bayer 04 transfer Kerim Alajbegovic to Juventus

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.

Show more
Werkself bezieht Quartier im Weimarer Land
Bayer 04 - 01.08.2026

Start of preseason training camp: Werkself arrive in Weimarer Land

A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.

Show more
Lobke Loonen trifft zum 1:0
Women - 01.08.2026

Home kit debut: Women’s team win friendly against Genk

With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.

Show more