The U14s are still top of the table in the Youth Cup after a 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the home game against the team in second on the same points, the Werkself youngsters levelled with ten minutes to play for the final score of 1-1. The Black and Reds played with ten players for over 50 minutes after a red card on the half-hour mark and conceded the goal just after the sending off. “We fought our way back into the game with ten men. The draw was deserved,” summed up coach Mirko Casper.
Like the older year group, the Leverkusen U13s held on to top spot in the Youth Cup. The team under the coaching duo Benjamin Adam and Marco Walter won 5-2 at FC Köln – and have now gone six games without dropping a point.
The Werkself U12s were on the wrong end of a 7-0 scoreline away to Fortuna Düsseldorf. “Even though we were unable to impress in attack, our biggest problem was individually with the defenders,” said coach Pierre de Witt, who is sure after the performance of the Rhine rivals that Fortuna “will win other games” following their first victory of the season.
The Leverkusen U11s secured a runaway win against Fortuna Köln in a friendly. The final score in the second game on the 9-a-side pitch: 14:2.
The U10s also played in a friendly and they deservedly beat the VfB Hilden U11 team 7-2 in four 20-minute quarters. “We’re very happy with the performance,” said coach Alexander Nuss who works alongside Marvin Schmitz with the U10 squad. “We have made clear progress, above all in terms of our game, passing and decision making.”
The U9s had a friendly away to FC Hennef. “We were able to learn a lot from the game,” said coach Greuel who made a positive assessment of the start to the season: “We are happy with the squad and we think they in very good shape.”
FC Köln v Bayer 04 U19 5-0 (L)
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Bayer 04 U15 3-1 (F)
Bayer 04 U14 v Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-1 (L)
FC Köln v Bayer 04 U13 2-5 (L)
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Bayer 04 U12 7-0 (L)
Bayer 04 U11 v Fortuna Köln 14-2 (F)
Bayer 04 U10 v VfB Hilden U11 7-2 (F)
FC Hennef v Bayer 04 U9 o.E. (F)
Bayer 04 U8 v FC Pesch o.E. (F)
(L) = League | (F) = Friendly
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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