#B04inAustria – Day 5: Football, golf and rugby
The Werkself really got stuck in on Monday. Roger Schmidt and his fellow coaches came up with a special idea in the afternoon with rugby being introduced to the training session.
The former world class player and captain of the Spain international team, Chema Bohorquez, dropped in to run the session. Jonathan Tah, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and all the other Werkself players took part. Tackling in rugby is a different proposition from football.
Bernhard’s followers
It was off to the golf course straight after that. The aim was not to run though all the Olympic sports but instead a Werkself course was set up in Zell am See. Golfing legend Bernhard Langer holds the record for the best round and several of the Werkself pros showed their ability with a driver. Inspired by Wendell, Kevin Volland hit the longest drive of the evening.
Bayer 04 and SalzburgerLand
As a son of the Salzburg region Julian Baumgartlinger is much in demand at the moment. Accordingly, he was well received at the press conference at the golf course. Along with Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade, sporting director Rudi Völler and Roger Schmidt he joined Leo Bauernberger, the director of SalzburgerLand Tourismus GmbH, plus Renate Ecker, head of Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus GmbH in front of the impressive club house to field questions from German and Austrian journalists. “I’m not surprised Bayer 04 are so happy to come here,” said the 28-year-old against the backdrop of a magical Alpine panorama.
Three returnees
Talking about Julian Baumgartlinger: The Austrian, along with his fellow countryman Ramazan Öczan was suffering with groin problems but both are now fit again. Both completed the full morning training session and joined in with the rugby session. The same goes for Wendell. The Brazilian fell awkwardly on Sunday so he was unable to give his all.
One departure
The Werkself squad has shrunk a little. Malcolm Cacutalua, who was in SalzburgerLand up to Saturday, has signed for Arminia Bielefeld. At Bayer 04 the 21-year-old, who spent the past two seasons on loan at VfL Bochum, won the DFB Under 19 Cup as captain in 2013.
#B04inAustria – Get close up
Anyone who wants to know what’s happening at the heart of the Werkself has a chance up to Tuesday night. Up to then the Snapchat story on bayer04snaps is available online with Jonathan Tah talking to fans on Monday. All other information and background details are available as ever using the hashtag #B04inAustria – on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 30.12.2025
Bundesliga Goal of the Year: Vote now for Terrier or Wirtz
With their wonderful goals, Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz are up for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025. Voting for fans will run exclusively via the official Bundesliga app until Sunday, 4 January.
Show more
Youth - 29.12.2025
Youth teams review 2025: Thrilling final and historic progress in Youth League
Last-minute ecstasy, huge disappointment and a historic performance on the European stage - 2025 was a real emotional roller coaster, especially for the U19s. A rousing run in the knockout phase secured the team a place in the final of the German championships, where they lost by the narrowest of margins. Despite the departure of several key players, the young Werkself team quickly regained their usual strength and qualified for the knockout rounds in the UEFA Youth League for the first time at the end of the year. In 2025, youngsters Jeremiah Mensah and Montrell Culbreath made their debuts in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. The other youth teams also contributed great performances and a number of trophies to the collective Black and Red success, while the successful Bayer 04 Future Kids project broke new ground. Read on for the 2025 review of the youth teams.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 29.12.2025
AFCON blog: Maza shines in second win for Algeria - Kofane makes debut for Cameroon
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
eSports - 28.12.2025
#B04eSports in 2025: Club runners-up and first showdown winners in VBL history
A memorable 12 months: 2025 was a year marked by success, intense competition and groundbreaking innovations for the #B04eSports team. After ending the 2024/25 season as runners-up, the Leverkusen-based console pros got down to business in a new, completely restructured season model, in which showdowns rather than divisions were the decisive factor on the road to the final round of the German Club Championship. Bayer 04 quickly earned a place in the history books of the most prestigious competition in German eSports and secured some valuable advantages for the coming year. Bayer04.de takes a look back at 12 months full of passion and the determination to take the next step.
Show more
Sustainability - 27.12.2025
Sustainability in 2025: Black and Red commitment to people and the environment in Leverkusen and around the world
Sustainability once again had many faces at Bayer 04 in 2025: In community activity, the club supported countless regional campaigns, including the Leverkusener Tafel, the Frauenennotruf Leverkusen e.V. and the homeless aid organisation "Kältegang". But the Black and Reds have also been involved in good causes around the world - including the Young Coaches training programmes in Uganda and Ecuador plus the Genuine World Cup in the USA, where the Inclusion Werkself competed. Bayer 04 was also fully committed to the environment and underwent external and independently certification in accordance with the European environmental management standard EMAS, for example, to analyse and optimise the club’s environmental efforts. Looking back at sustainability in 2025.
Show more
