The #Bayer04MexicoTour is a highlight of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Bayer Mexico. The delegation was led by Arturo Sanchez (president of Bayer Consumer Health Latin America) and Mikel Arriola (president of the Mexican league MX) plus the management of the top-flight Mexican clubs Deportivo Toluca und Club América.
After arriving late on Friday evening, the group from Mexico received an insight into the world of Bayer 04 over the weekend. The programme included a guided tour of the BayArena, a U19 home game at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium as well as a visit to the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. The visitors received a presentation from Thomas Eichin, head of the Bayer 04 Performance Centre, on the professional structure and way of working in the youth and women sections at Bayer 04.
"The visit to the training ground was very interesting. It was exciting to see the level here and how professional the youth and women's teams are run," said Arturo Sanchez. "The whole infrastructure is impressive and shows the ambition here to work to achieve bigger targets."
After a number of discussions at the weekend on the planned projects, Monday took the group to the German Football League (DFL) in Frankfurt where Donata Hopfen, CEO of the DFL, explained the internationalisation strategy of the Bundesliga to the visitors. The visit was rounded off on Monday night at the BayArena watching the 2-0 home win for the Werkself against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The #Bayer04MexicoTour runs from 15 to 20 May in Mexico. The Werkself will play a friendly on Tuesday 17 May at the Estadio Nemesio Diez against the Mexican top-flight side Deportivo Toluca. In addition, a number of marketing and PR events are planned in the Mexican capital, plus discussions with representatives of the Mexican league and a cultural programme including visits to community facilities.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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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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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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