"Our concept is working: Young players capable of developing get trust, playing time and responsibility. They can show what they can do at a very high level. The result this year is the Champions League," said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes in commenting on the award.
The second and third places were taken by the two second division clubs Holstein Kiel (9,354 minutes; €1.28 million) and FC Magdeburg (8,273 minutes; €1.13 million). The payments reflect the number of minutes played by U23 players in the Local Player category. They must have been registered with a German club for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21. The promotion fund is made up of 2% of national media income (for the 2018/19 season that was more than €22 million). All the minutes played in professional league games by Local Players are taken into account up to the season of their 23rd birthday. Players from abroad must have been registered with the German Football Association (DFB) before their 19th birthday.
Falko Götz was appointed at the start of the week to look after talented youngsters in the transition between the youth teams and the first team. The 57-year-old played for the Werkself from 1984 to 1988 (115 appearances, 26 goals) and he won the UEFA Cup in his final season under the Bayer Cross. After ending his playing career in 1997, he started working as a coach in the youth section at Hertha Berlin before later training their pro squad. Most recently, the former East Germany international coached the former second division club FSV Frankfurt.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women suffered a setback in the race for third place in the Bundesliga table. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team lost 1-0 at home to direct rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, with a penalty after two minutes deciding the match. With 32 points and a game in hand, TSG have moved above the Werkself, who remain on 31 points. There is now a three-week international break before the remaining seven Bundesliga matches.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without defender Loïc Badé for the time being. The Frenchman suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh in Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at FC Union Berlin. The diagnosis was the result of an MRI scan this Sunday morning.
Show more
It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
Show more
