"Each and every one of you is a very important part of the club and the success of recent years. Thank you for everything," stressed Xabi Alonso in his farewell words to the club staff on Thursday afternoon. Visibly moved, assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla also added - and in German: "Bayer 04 has become family. I will always carry this club in my heart!"
Argentine Sebastian Parrilla arrived at Leverkusen with Xabi Alonso in the autumn of 2022, after the two had already spent three years together at Real Sociedad San Sebastian B in Spain. Parrilla and Alonso got to know each other in the Real Madrid youth set-up before joining San Sebastian.
Alberto Encinas completed the coaching staff as assistant coach in 2021. The Spaniard joined from Barcelona, where he had previously spent four years as assistant coach of the U19s.
Ismael Camenforte Lopez also moved to under the Bayer cross in 2021. In his first season at Bayer 04, the Spaniard was responsible for training methodology at the Kurtekotten performance centre, before joining the coaching staff of the first team at the start of the 2022/23 season and taking on the role of athletics coach.
The second international break of the 2025/26 season will begin after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin (Saturday, 4 October, 15:30 CEST). The latest information on call-ups.
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Alejo Sarco and Argentina won their second group match at the U20 World Cup in Chile on Wednesday night. They beat Australia 4-1 with Sarco setting the tone early with a goal in the third minute. As in the first group game against Cuba, where Sarco scored twice, the 19-year-old was also named "Player of the Match" against Australia.
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Second game, second draw in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26: The Werkself were held to a 1-1 draw by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in the league phase. After an early but brief setback in the form of an offside goal by Ivan Perisic for the visitors (5'), the Werkself took control and created numerous good chances in the first half. Leverkusen took a deserved lead after the break in the 65th minute through Christian Kofane. However, PSV's Ismael Saibari replied a few minutes later to level at 1-1 (72').
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In the second match in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, the Werkself host PSV Eindhoven this Wednesday evening, 1 October (kick-off: 21:00 CEST/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). PSV have injury problems but are in confident mood after winning two consecutive league titles. PSV coach Peter Bosz and keeper Matej Kovar are two familiar faces who have fond memories of their Bayer 04 days. The latest information on the UCL match at the BayArena can be found in out matchday news.
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Bayer 04 beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on matchday two to clock up the next three points in the UCL Youth League 2025/26. In front of just under 500 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the visitors from the Netherlands led at half-time, but the Werkself turned the game round in the second 45. That makes it two wins on the bounce after the victory in Copenhagen.
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