"After one and a half seasons together, with JAKO being a highly professional and efficient partner, we were happy to enter a closer relationship through a long-term strategy," said Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade. "Not just because of the improved financial considerations, we are now extending our contractual relationship with JAKO. Our supplier has performed brilliantly since the start of the partnership in 2016. Thanks to the outstanding quality of materials, special service provision, high flexibility and creativity, JAKO has become a premium partner in a very short space of time and we want to hold onto that support and expertise in the future. For JAKO, we were not only the clear number one in the ranking of partners – as we felt on a daily basis and that was, above all, demonstrated by their actions," said Schade.
The company from Hollenbach, a partner of professional clubs in European football for over 20 years, has been able to achieve set marketing targets through the joint venture with Bayer 04. Rudi Sprügel, chairman of the board at JAKO, was also very pleased after the signing of the new four-year contract: "We're very happy to go forward into the future together with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. That means we will remain a partner of a top club with an international profile for at least another four years. This extension is a logical step for us. In the previous 18 months of our partnership, both sides have been living proof of the team approach. We have been able to benefit from the expertise of the club on all levels and we have done our best every day to supply top quality kit to the Werkself and their fans. At the same time, our partnership has brought us closer together. On that basis, we want to develop all aspects of our partnership, increase the visibility of our two brands across all channels and make full use of the great opportunities provided by Bayer 04 Leverkusen. So I'm looking forward to an exciting second half of the season and I'm confident JAKO and the Werkself will soon be seen on the European stage once again."
Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler sees the extension of the contract as the logical continuation of a success story: "Both sides have recognised the great potential of this partnership," said Völler. "We offer JAKO the opportunity to continue to grow alongside a top German club. And our partner continues to supply us with high-quality equipment that is both functional and looks good. The designs and ideas presented to us by JAKO over the last year and a half have all been implemented," declared Völler. "We are now looking forward to new joint projects and ideas."
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 personalised 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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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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