The flight departed in the direction of the Alps from Cologne Bonn Airport at 10.30 CEST. After a quiet 70-minute flight, the aeroplane landed safely at Salzburg Airport. On the tarmac, a delegation from Salzburger Land, a partner in the sponsors club at Bayer 04, met the Werkself and the support group. The team, coaching staff, support team and management lined up for a photo with the partner, Fernando Carro presented Leo Bauernberger (CEO at Salzburger Land) with a brand-new Bayer 04 home shirt. That was followed by the transfer to the accommodation in Kaprun.
A total of 24 players travelled to Austria. In goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and striker Lucas Alario, head coach Gerardo Seoane welcomed two Werkself players back to the squad for a first session run by the Swiss manager. Originally, Joel Pohjanpalo was set to return at the training camp after the European Championship just like Hradecky. However, the Finn tested positive for Covid-19. "Joel Pohjanpalo had a good European Championship. It's a pity he couldn't join the flight. At the same time, it could happen again in 18 months that are pandemic forces a player into self-isolation," said sporting director Simon Rolfes.
At exactly 16.32 CEST, head coach Seoane welcomed his players for the first time onto the pitch at the Alois Latini Stadium right next to Lake Zeller. The session started with a couple of relaxed circuits of the pitch and then the fitness coaches started a warm-up routine on the neighbouring pitch. After that, Karim Bellarabi had to end the session early due to muscular problems as did Demarai Gray shortly after that. Returnee Alario and youngster Zidan Sertdemir trained on their own while the rest of the Werkself squad had to complete passing drills as well as an intensive practice match.
In spite of being so far away from the Rhineland and the hometown of Leverkusen, the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and other parts of Germany was in the minds of the players of the black and red delegation in Kaprun. Jonathan Tah declared: "Unfortunately in Leverkusen and its surroundings everything is currently submerged in the true sense of the word. That's why a lot of people need support." You can find out how to help out HERE.
Bayer 04 are committed to helping out in different ways during this current exceptional situation, including immediate aid with a donation to the 'Leverkusen Hilft' campaign organised by the community foundation of the City of Leverkusen.
The day was rounded off with Moussa Diaby and Jonathan Tah enjoying exciting challenges in mini table tennis, mini basketball and a goal wall shoot-out – at the 'Kaprun Olympic Games'. Room 151 at the Tauern Spa Hotel was turned into a small arena for Bayer 04 TV productions. More will be available over the course of the week on our social media channels.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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