The great passion for their favourite sport is evident amongst the Werkself U11 squad during the suspension caused by coronavirus. "I hope I can finally start training with my lads again at Kurtekotten," said Gabriel Minutillo who played eleven friendlies with his team and coaching duo Sebastian Lang and Fritz Vosen in this season from August to the start of October before working from home and individual training started.
In their New Year's wishes, the 10-year-olds see the bigger picture away from football and, in addition to returning to full training, primarily want to see one thing: good health for everybody.
Davud Alibasic: "I wish everybody a good start and I hope we can play more often this year compared with 2020. Thanks to all the staff at Bayer 04 who have always been and will be there for us."
Can Altuner: "I'm wishing for Bayer 04, and also for me, a successful year on the pitch and above all a healthy 2021 and, of course, finally getting back to playing normally. My motto for every training session and every game is: Battle with passion, win with pride, lose with respect – but never give up! That's how I want to approach 2021 with my lads."
Valon Bedzeti: "My wish is that everybody stays healthy and that we can soon be able to train and play under normal conditions again and, in a couple of years, we are all successful football players. One thing is particularly important to me: Fight for your team if you want your team to fight for you!"
Rayan Ben Ali: "My wish for the New Year is that we all remain healthy and happy and that we can soon defeat coronavirus. Then we can finally all get back to training and playing our games. A successful 2021 to all teams at Bayer 04!"
Celal Demir: "For me, in addition to the health of everybody around me, there is a target again like last year: It's not about being the best. It's about being better than yesterday at the end of the day."
Finn Grotthaus: "My wish for the club and the Werkself is a Champions League place at the end of the season."
Samuel Guie-Mien: "In 2021, I wish above all health for me, my family and my teammates and continuing great success at Bayer 04."
Diego Kampl: "I wish everybody much happiness and good health for the New Year and hope that all children will finally be able to play football again as normal. My personal wish is to be able to go to the stadium again with my father."
Emirhan Karabulut: "For the New Year, I wish that coronavirus disappears forever from our lives. And I wish the Bayer 04 family all the best for the New Year 2021. I hope we can all see each other again soon and matches and training together will be possible as in the old days. I really miss football. See you soon at Kurtekotten!"
Anderson Kussunga: "In addition to health for everybody, I wish from a personal sporting point of view that I can improve my right foot, increase my speed and successfully work on my technique."„
Adam Labari: "I wish the club, players, coaches and staff all the best for the future, the best possible success and above all health so that we can all be back on the pitch together soon."
Gabriel Minutillo: "In 2021, my wish is to be able to train with my lads again at Kurtekotten and that the Werkself end the season by qualifying for the Champions League."
Lindi Neimi: "I hope the first team continue to be so successful and can perhaps even end up as champions of Germany. When the pandemic has been beaten then I want to be able to train with my team at Kurtekotten again and play lots of games together."
Yaron Ommer: "I wish the whole youth section at Bayer 04 all the best for the New Year. Stay healthy. I hope we can see each other again as soon as possible and then give it our all in every training session, every game and every tournament."
Chahin Sathi: "Unfortunately, for us 2020 was mainly a year without normal contact with our friends, training sessions and matches. But we’re now starting the new year full of energy and anticipation."
Training sessions and matches remain suspended in the youth and amateur game. The timing of the return to the pitch is dependent on the development of the pandemic.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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