Lars Bender took over from Simon Rolfes as captain in 2015 when the sporting director hung up his boots. The 31-year-old, with a contract to 2021, has passed on the armband. “I’m convinced a captain belongs on the pitch and has to play regularly. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case for me last season. In future, I’d like to fully focus on my duties as a ‘normal’ player – and on my body, my fitness. That’s why I wanted to give up the captain’s armband.”
Charles Aránguiz joined the Werkself in the summer 2015. The Chile international has gone on to make 142 appearances for the Werkself. “Lars is still our captain. Just that he is no longer wearing the armband. He has earned the respect of the whole team and the club. His decision came as a surprise but we accept it and we will support him at all times,” Aránguiz explained. “It’s an honour for me to lead the team onto the field. The club has placed great confidence in me – especially after my serious Achilles injury at the start. And I really feel at home in the team. We have ambitious targets. I’ll give my all for that. On the pitch. And off it as well. Together with Lars and the other leading players.”
The Werkself captains since 1996:
Jens Nowotny 1996-2003
Carsten Ramelow 2003-2008
Simon Rolfes 2008-2015
Lars Bender 2015-2020
Charles Aránguiz from 2020
It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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Werkself TV shows highlights of the 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league...
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The Werkself beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg to claim a crucial victory in the Greek capital. After a focused first-half display with a number of presentable chances, Patrik Schick crowned a textbook counter to hand the Werkself the lead on the hour (60’). The Czech rounded off his brace when he headed in from a corner just 144 seconds later. Bayer 04 maintained their lead with aplomb to achieve a good position for the return leg in Leverkusen.
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Bayer 04 and Olympiacos had only met twice before the current UEFA Champions campaign. After the encounter on Matchday 7 of this season’s league phase, the Werkself travel to face the Greek side for the second time in just four weeks for the knockout play-off first leg. The Black and Reds were dominant for large spells in mid-January but lost 2-0 after missing a number of presentable chances. The Werkself aim to do better on Wednesday night to “seize the chance for revenge,” as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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