"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 have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.
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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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