
Bordinggaard is a former player and coach who first advised Bayer 04 in the summer of 2019. "Keld not only played professional football and worked as a coach including many years with the Denmark U21 team. He also has a very strategic view of the development of a football club," said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes, who successfully completed the UEFA Executive Master for International Players course together with the 58-year-old in 2017.
Thomas Eichin, head of youth and women's football at Bayer 04, added: "Keld has already been able to help out Bayer 04 in his adviser role with valuable advice for the training of our youth coaches. We now want him to bring these important factors into play for the successful development of talent to further strengthen our work and thereby continue to raise the level at the Performance Centre."
Keld Bordinggaard mainly played professional football in Denmark. He won the league title with Odense BK in 1982 as well as with Silkeborg IF in 1994 and he made four international appearances for the European Champions of 1992. After his playing career, he went on to become a coach, as assistant to head coach Morten Olsen with the Denmark team (2002 – 06) and after that he was in charge of the Denmark U21s for five years. In 2014/15, Bordinggaard was assistant coach under Kasper Hjulmand at FSV Mainz 05 and after that year he started to study at UEFA and founded the firm 'Bordinggaard Football'.
"I'm primarily interested in the medium and long-term development of a football club. And, for a club like Bayer 04, outstanding youth development is of key importance in this respect. The Werkself stand for attractive, dynamic and creative football. That aspiration should be evident in all the youth teams. I'd like to make my contribution to that as Head of Coaching," Bordinggaard said.
His predecessor Helmut Jungheim started working at Bayer 04 on 1 January 2016. The long-standing sporting director of the Middle Rhine Football Association was the successor to Jürgen Gelsdorf as the head of the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. With the appointment of Thomas Eichin as head of youth and women's football in the summer of 2020, Jungheim initially moved into the newly created position of head trainer at the coaching academy.
"We would like to thank Helmut Jungheim for his good work over the years. He has done important work in the development of our youth players," said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes. "However, in relation to the newly created position, its demands and direction, we want to achieve new momentum. That's why we've agreed not to extend the contract with Mr Jungheim, that was due to run out in the summer."

As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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As well as internal changes and familiar faces, Bayer 04 are also looking to bring fresh impetus to the coaching staff of the senior youth squads for the 2026/27 campaign. Here is an overview of the U19, U17 and U16 teams.
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Bayer 04 have signed 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The Germany U17 international is joining the Werkself from the Berlin Bundesliga 2 club on a long-term contract. Eichhorn made 19 appearances for the Hertha Berlin first team last season, scoring two goals.
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