Sven Hübscher took over as the U19 coach at the start of January. The 42-year-old was previously at Schalke and third division Preußen Münster before he joined Bayer 04 as successor to the duo of Markus von Ahlen/Patrick Weiser. As the U19 Bundesliga West has been suspended since the middle of October due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hübscher has only been able to work with his new team on the training ground and in friendly fixtures.
This weekend’s game for the U19s is not a competitive encounter but it should still be a good challenge. Borussia Dortmund were top of the West Section on maximum points. Four league matchdays were played in September and October last year before the suspension due to the pandemic. The BVB youngsters won all four of their games. The Leverkusen U19s picked up six out of a possible twelve points – under the predecessors to Hübscher.
Bayer 04 will broadcast the youth game on the club YouTube channel. Niko Hartmann, one of the commentators on Werks11 Radio, will cover the match from 10.55 CEST. During the half-time break, the commentator will interview Thomas Eichin, the head of the Bayer 04 Performance Centre.
Click HERE for the Bayer 04 YouTube channel.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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