Bayer 04 and Peter Bosz agreed a contract extension on 17 January and announced the Dutch coach would stay at the club to 2022. Bosz's previous record is impressive: The Werkself have played 58 games under him and picked up an average of 1.90 points per match – no other Bayer 04 head coach, in charge for more than ten games, has a better average. By comparison: Jupp Heynckes averaged 1.87 points in his two seasons at Bayer 04. The only ones better than that were caretaker managers: Peter Hermann (1 game/3 points on average), Rudi Völler (7/2.43) and Sascha Lewandowski (54/1.94).
2020 is only three months old and will certainly still have some highlights up its sleeve. But one has already happened: the 4-3 home win against Borussia Dortmund. In spite of BVB leading twice, the hosts turned the game round in 82 seconds late on with goals from Leon Bailey and Lars Bender. Kevin Volland also bagged a brace.
This time they came incredibly close. On 15 February, the score in the Bundesliga match between Union Berlin and Bayer 04 was 2-2 on 90 minutes – a flattering result from a Werkself perspective who produced a below-par performance at the An der Alten Försterei stadium. For the first time ever, it looked like the Berlin team were going to take a point from a clash with the Black and Reds. Then Karim Bellarabi scored in the 04th minute of added time to make it 3-2 and destroy the Union dream. After the Werkself also came out on top in the DFB Cup quarter-final tie against Union two and a half weeks later, the record for the Berliners against the Werkself is now: five games – five defeats.
FC Augsburg have been waiting even longer for a win against Bayer 04. The 2-0 defeat on 23 February was the 20th attempt in a competitive fixture (Bundesliga and DFB Cup). The record to date for FCA: 14 defeats, 6 draws – and not a single win.
This loss hurts: Kevin Volland was also in top form in 2020 and always good for a goal or two – but the 27-year-old striker suffered a torn ankle ligament in the Europa League game against FC Porto. Time out injured: approximately three months. Volland underwent an operation immediately and is now in rehab. A comeback before the end of the season looked to be tight – now that appears to be more realistic if the season extended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Volland is hopeful: “I’m making great progress. I’m confident complete recovery could happen one or two weeks earlier than planned.”
Bayer 04 can look back at 999 away goals in the Bundesliga with the last one netted by Leon Bailey on 1 March at RB Leipzig. Who will make it 1,000? We will have to wait patiently for the answer...
“I just wanted to show what I can do. Perhaps some people don’t know me that well,” said Paulinho in explaining his goal celebration after the 4-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt – he ran to the North Stand and bowed to the fans. The Brazilian, in his first start for Bayer 04, repaid that with a double and an assist. Since detailed records have been kept, (2004/05), Paulinho is the first player at Bayer 04 to be involved in three goals in a Bundesliga game on their first start.
Winter signing Exequiel Palacios made his debut on 5 February in the DFB Cup tie against VfB Stuttgart. The Argentinean played for the full 90 minutes in his first outing and has played three games since.
Following the Werkself going out of the Champions League at the end of last year after finishing third in the group, the club were in the Europa League in 2020. And with great success! Bayer 04 fans witnessed brilliant performances from their Werkself team: The Peter Bosz team comfortably beat FC Porto in the Round of 32 with a 2-1 home win and a 3-1 victory away and the Werkself also impressed in the Round of 16 first leg with a 3-1 win at Glasgow Rangers: And hopefully there is more to come!
But then it all came to a stop – at least for the time being. The match in Glasgow was the last game in front of a crowd; as it turned out, the last before the postponement of domestic and European games due to coronavirus. The match will certainly be remembered by the 900 travelling Werkself fans. The atmosphere during the game and particularly after the final whistle was brilliant! A little party before the break.
After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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The fans have spoken: Ibrahim Maza has been voted Bayer 04 men’s Player of the Season for 2025/26. The 20-year-old won the club’s annual poll with more than a third of the total votes. Vanessa Fudalla, for her part, has been voted Bayer 04 women’s Player of the Season for 2025/26 by the fans. For both Maza and Fudalla, the past season was their first playing for the Werkself.
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After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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