"The U19s are of central importance for us in the transition from junior football to the first team squad. That's why we looked for a coach who has demonstrated his quality in both areas. In addition, he should share our approach to football: We want to play active and attractive football with our teams. Sven Hübscher meets all these requirements," explained Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes.
For Thomas Eichin, director of the youth section, the coach perfectly meets the job requirements. "At Schalke, he worked with the top coach Norbert Elgert and he was very successful with the teams he trained and he helped a lot of highly talented youngsters to gain a foothold in professional football. Beyond that, he's ambitious and a proven team player. We're convinced the U19s are in very good hands with him."
Following an ankle injury, Sven Hübscher started his career as a coach at an early age. When he was 20, he worked as a youth coach with DSC Wanne-Eickel and there he came to the attention of the management at Schalke 04. He joined the Royal Blues in 2000 where he was head and assistant coach with various youth teams. In 2013, he moved up to the first team with head coach Jens Keller and then supported Roberto di Matteo and André Breitenreiter as assistant coach. In July 2017, he moved on to Werder Bremen where he initially looked after the U17s and then the U23s. He was brought in as head coach at Preußen Münster in 2019/20 but his job with the third division club ended after six months.
"The challenge at Bayer 04 really appeals to me. For two decades, a large number of talented youngsters have been brought through to professional football at this Performance Centre," said Sven Hübscher. "I want to play my part in continuing that in the future."
Sven Hübscher will have the support of Slawomir Czarniecki. The 41-year-old started at Bayer 04 and 2000 as a youth coach and currently is the head of first team and youth coordination. The agreement initially runs to the summer of 2021.
The Werkself consolidated their position among the top teams in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga thanks to a last-minute goal on Wednesday evening. Roberto Pätzold’s team beat Hamburger SV 2-1 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Kristin Kögel (14’) and Caroline Kehrer (90’+5) scored for Bayer 04. The result takes Bayer 04 Women onto 19 points, third in the table behind top two Bayern Munich (25) and VfL Wolfsburg (22).
Show more
One Bayer 04 player in particular is looking forward to the Werkself’s Champions League match away at Benfica on Wednesday 5 November (kick-off at 21:00 CET). Alejandro Grimaldo returns to his old stomping ground for the first time since he joined Bayer 04 two years ago. He encounters a Portuguese side that are unbeaten in the domestic league but under pressure in the UEFA Champions League having not taken any points, even under new coach José Mourinho. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in Lisbon.
Show more
For the first time this season, the Bayer Leverkusen U19s were beaten in the UEFA Youth League. After two wins and a draw, Bayer 04 lost 5-0 at Benfica on matchday 4. The goals for the home side were scored by Goncalo Moreira (9’, 40’) and Francisco Silva (43’) in the first half. After the restart, Eduardo Fernandes (48’) and Gil Neves (55’) completed the scoring.
Show more
He is the best example of how far successful and professional youth development can go: Kai Havertz joined Bayer 04 from Alemannia Aachen at the age of eleven. At 17, the Germany international made his first appearance for the senior team, graduated from high school in Leverkusen and is still the youngest player ever to make one hundred appearances in the Bundesliga. From London, where he plays for top club Arsenal, Havertz is closely following the discussion about the Bayer 04 Campus and, like more than 11,000 other supporters, has signed the petition launched by Bayer 04 fans from Monheim am Rhein.
Show more
