On the International Day of People with Disabilities, the Werkself are again this year supporting the #PurpleLightUp campaign by lighting up the BayArena in purple today, Friday, 3 December, from 17.00 0 to 22.00 CET. Bayer 04 are thereby standing up for the rights and needs of people with disabilities. The campaign, organised in German-speaking countries by myAbility joined by Charta der Vielfalt e.V. , primarily aims for dialogue amongst the wider public and raising awareness of self-determination and equal participation for people with disabilities.
Over 70 organisations will take part in the day of action in Germany. The Black and Reds are not only involved today but also on 365 days a year in more inclusion, in particular in football. For example, wheelchair users on Werkself matchdays in the South stand have more than 40 places available plus a seat for their companions. Bayer 04 also provides free commentary for the visually impaired at every game as well as a sign language interpreter service for people with impaired hearing. The club also has specially trained inclusion staff.
Football in Germany is mourning the loss of the last living participant in the Miracle of Bern: Horst Eckel, who played in 1954 when Germany won the World Cup for the first time, today passed away at the age of 89. Rudi Völler is happy to remember the former Germany international and long-standing player with FC Kaiserslautern: "As a symbol for all of the 54 World Cup winners, Horst Eckel was a particularly down-to-earth man with great modesty. He had absolutely no airs and graces and was always very pleasant to talk to. Whenever we met, it was always wonderful to talk to Horst about old times. He is a big loss to German football."
Head coach Gerardo Seoane welcomed the Werkself squad on Friday morning for the last training session ahead of tomorrow's home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth (kick-off: 15.30 CET/stadium opens: 13.30 CET). At the training session held at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the 43-year-old had almost his whole squad at his disposal. Definitely sidelined for the game against the newcomers are Julian Baumgartlinger and Mitchel Bakker as they were unable to take part in training due to injury. Tomorrow's match probably comes too early for Timothy Fosu-Mensah following his torn cruciate injury even though the Dutchman is, according to Seoane, "not far from being back at 100%.”
Moussa Diaby has had two reasons to celebrate this week: The Frenchman won the vote for November Goal of the Month presented by like2drive. In the Europa League group match against Celtic the 22-year-old scored with three minutes to play with a powerful volley from a Florian Wirtz assist to make it 3-2. The winger thereby put the Werkself in the Round of 16 with a game to play. Watch outstanding goal HERE.
The winger was also included in the FIFA Team of the Week today (Friday). What an impressive week for the France international – congratulations, Moussa.
Amateur football and their clubs continue to face a big challenge. The coronavirus pandemic has left its marks and still poses volunteers with numerous problems. In order to support one of the most important elements of German football, Bayer 04 and many other professional clubs are again taking part in the 'Danke ans Ehrenamt' campaign to thank the volunteers.
The Bayer 04 Volunteers Award will be presented at the Werkself home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, to be played on Saturday (4 December), the day before the International Day of Volunteering. The award is presented this year for the 15th time and again is aimed at bodies, clubs or associations who are particularly committed to volunteering.
The Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sportförderung gGmbH, initiator of the volunteering award, was set up in 2007 with the aim of promoting volunteering in football. With the help of the yearly volunteering award, 49 clubs in the Middle Rhine (FVM) and and Lower Rhine (FVN) Football Associations have been supported financially by over €200,000. The prize money was shared last year between the clubs Jugendsport Wenau 1957, SC Sparta Bardenberg and TuB Mussum 1955.
The board of the European Club Association (ECA) including Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro has a new addition: Oliver Kahn was elected yesterday (Thursday) as the successor to Michael Gerlinger, director of legal affairs at Bayer Munich. The 52-year-old was appointed as CEO at the German record champions in the summer.
Kahn is accompanied on the ECA board by Joachim Watzke (Borussia Dortmund) in addition to Carro, who joined the committee in July. They form a trio of Bundesliga representatives on the ECA with Paris St Germain club boss Nasser al-Khelaifi as the chair.
He was a player and head coach at Bayer 04 – and 50 years old on Friday: Heiko Herrlich. The Mannheim-born footballer played for the Werkself from 1989 to 1993 winning the DFB Cup in his final year at the club. He made 75 Bundesliga appearances (six goals, four assists) for the Black and Reds. He went on to play for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund and then became a coach. Herrlich coached his former club from Leverkusen from July 2017 to December 2018. His last coaching job was at FC Augsburg. Congratulations and many happy returns, Heiko.
From a former coach to a former goalkeeper: The Cologne-born shot-stopper Dirk Heinen became a professional footballer at Bayer 04 at the end of the 1980s and he stayed at the Werkself for more than ten years. Today's goalkeeping coach at the Irish first division club Waterford made 107 Bundesliga appearances for the Werkself. Happy birthday to you too, Dirk.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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