Werner Wenning, Chair of the Bayer 04 Shareholders’ Committee: “Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes have done an outstanding job in developing Bayer 04 over recent years. The greatest sporting successes in our club’s history are just as much the result of their work as the sustainable development of the club as a whole. That is why our aim is to continue this successful collaboration in this configuration in the years ahead. Both men embody competence, reliability and continuity – and are committed to driving Bayer 04 forward on a long-term basis and at the very highest level.”
Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04: “I am delighted by the confidence shown in me by the Shareholders’ Committee. Bayer 04 has developed very well in recent years. We can be proud of that. At the same time, we want to – and will – remain hungry for success. Our aim remains to continuously improve at all levels and thereby lay the foundations for continuing to compete for titles both nationally and internationally in the future.”
Simon Rolfes, managing director sport at Bayer 04: “Bayer 04 has been my sporting home for many years. This contract extension therefore means a great deal to me. Together, we have laid a strong foundation that we intend to continue to build on. Our aim is to position Bayer 04 as an organisation in such a way that we can regularly compete with the best teams in Europe and challenge for the greatest sporting honours. To this end, we will continue to work with passion and total commitment in the future.”
Fernando Carro has been at the helm of Bayer 04’s management since July 2018. Before starting at Leverkusen, the Spanish-born executive spent nearly 25 years in various international management roles within the Bertelsmann Group. He is also currently involved in leading bodies in national and European professional football.
Simon Rolfes has been a member of the Bayer 04 management team since 2022. Following his ten-year professional career in Leverkusen, the former Werkself captain and Germany international first took on the role of sporting director in 2018, before being appointed managing director sport. Together, Carro and Rolfes have now been shaping the club’s development for eight years, a journey that reached its sporting peak to date in 2024 with the club winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double, as well as reaching the UEFA Europa League final.
Bayer 04 are back at the BayArena! Under the slogan “One day. Two teams. One club.”, the Leverkusen stadium grounds will be transformed into a world of experiences – with a wide range of exclusive activities both on and off the pitch. Keep track of all the highlights in our blog for the 2026 season launch.
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Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
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When Afonso Moreira arrived for his interview with bayer04.de, he had to take a deep breath first. Asked how the morning session had gone, the 21-year-old replied with a slight smile: “Tough. Intense.” That’s really sums up the workload for the Werkself so far at the training camp in the Weimarer Land region. Head coach Carles Martínez and his team demand hard work, team spirit and the determination to improve every day. Those are values Moreira wholeheartedly identifies with – and the Portuguese player has not only taken them to heart, but also permanently noted in the form of a tattoo.
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