"Gerardo Seoane has done good work for Bayer 04 over the past one and a half years, above all with the outstanding qualification for the Champions League," said sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. "Unfortunately, we have left the path of success. The early exit from the DFB Cup but in particular the current position in the Bundesliga, which does not meet our expectations, has compelled us to change coaches," explained Rolfes the day after 2-0 defeat for the Werkself in the Champions League at Portuguese champions Porto. Seoane's assistant coach Patrick Schnarwiler is also leaving Bayer 04.
Fernando Carro, as the Bayer 04 CEO, emphasised the complexity of the decision: "Gerardo Seoane has enjoyed very high appreciation throughout the club both as a coach and as a person. It was not easy to part company. But we see no other possibility in the current situation.”
Xabi Alonso is the new head coach at Bayer 04. The Spain international with 114 caps won the UEFA Champions League as a player with Liverpool in 2005 and with Real Madrid in 2014 and he also won the German league title three times as a driving force with Bayern Munich from 2015 to 2017. The former midfielder won the European Championships with Spain in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010. Alonso will have his assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla alongside him at Bayer 04.
"In Xabi Alonso we have brought in a coach who was an absolute world-class player for many years, an intelligent strategist and extremely successful at three of the most demanding European leagues," said Rolfes on the signing of the former top star. Alonso has been working as a coach with the second team of the top-flight Spanish club Real Sociedad for the last three years and before that he worked with the youth teams at Real Madrid.
"I know Leverkusen as an outstanding club from my time in Germany. Bayer 04 always had great players and I see a lot of quality in the current squad," said Alonso. "In my discussions with the club it quickly became clear that ambitious targets are still the aim in spite of the current difficult situation. This job really attracts me and I'm sure we can live up to expectations."
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is intensifying the existing cooperation with Business Club partner EDO Personalservice. The Cologne-based company will receive additional hospitality rights from the Bundesliga club as well as prominent advertising in and around the BayArena. EDO Personalservice provides jobs both on a temporary basis and by directly placing skilled workers in permanent positions at other companies.
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Gustavo Puerta has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Spanish second division club Racing Santander.
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Victor Boniface has left Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan to fellow Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. The Nigerian centre forward joined the Werkself in January 2023 from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.
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¡Bienvenido a Leverkusen, Ezequiel ‘Equi’ Fernández! Bayer 04 have signed the Argentine midfielder from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah. The left-footed 23-year-old, who got his first taste for professional football at Boca Juniors, has signed a contract in Leverkusen until 30 June 2030 and will wear the number 6 shirt. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the 1.78-metre-tall new arrival.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen attacker Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, who was signed from Manchester City in July, has joined Bochum on loan. The 1.81m tall winger will spend a year with the Bundesliga 2 club. Alfa-Ruprecht’s contract in Leverkusen runs until 30 June 2030.
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