
"Uwe Seeler is undoubtedly one of the greatest players Germany has ever had. For following generations of players, including mine, Uwe was an absolute role model," said Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 sporting managing director. "I played together with his grandson Levin Öztunali at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Our deepest sympathies go to him and all the members of his family."
Rudi Völler, member of the Bayer 04 shareholders committee, said: "It's a shock for me. My thoughts are with his family and my deepest condolences go to them. Uwe was a wonderful man, one of Germany's biggest sporting legends has left us."
Seeler scored 404 goals in 476 appearances for Hamburg SV and he won the German league title and the DFB Cup with the Hanseatic club. He made 72 international appearances for Germany as the centre-forward and he scored 43 goals for his country. He played in four World Cup finals and was a runner-up at Wembley in 1966. He was named honorary captain by the German Football Association (DFB) in 1972. He played a big part in society and he was the first athlete to be awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1970.

With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
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The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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