Gelsdorf was joined by Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04, Thomas Eichin, head of the Performance Centre plus members of the departmental board Linda Schöttler (Bayer 04 Women), Friedhelm Renno (Elders' committee), Dirk Dreher (Veterans team) and Roman Klossek (Youth).
There were no elections this time as the whole departmental board will be in post for at least another two years.
Fernando Carro express the hope that the Werkself will be able to play in front of crowds at the BayArena next season and the also described his expectations of the youth section: "We need more of our home-grown players in our first team squad in the future." The club boss also expressed great praise for the Bayer 04 Women who have "almost reached the Champions League positions" this season. The team under head coach Achim Feifel are currently fifth in the FLYERALARM alarm Women's Bundesliga, level on points with fourth-placed Potsdam.
Thomas Eichin then explained his most important targets as head of the Performance Centre. The 54-year-old said he wanted to "improve all areas under my responsibility. On the one hand, that is the Kurtekotten Performance Centre/BayArena with all the youth teams and coaches, and on the other the Coaching Academy and Women's team attached to the Performance Centre." The aim is to get the Women to where the Werkself have long been: the top third of the table. The team is very well organised, has a great squad, the coaching staff are working hard. "It's no coincidence the team are where they are in the table moment," said Eichin.
In the youth section, the individual development of the players comes first. A lot of work has been done in this area during the coronavirus pandemic. That includes individual coaching for all youth teams. "Our motto is not to talk too much about what doesn't work but to implement what is possible," explained Eichin.
The reins have been tightened on the intensity of training as the primary aim is to "get more players through to the first-team squad and that has to be our top target." A common coaching philosophy for all teams and the specified fitness programme are particular focal points in youth development. "The final phase of development must be extremely strong for the U19s in particular. That's why our focus will be on providing appropriate training for the players. We will continue to try to maintain the flow from our basic teams from the U8 to the U12 sides through to the to the competitive level with the U17s and U19s. The rate of flow is currently at over 40%. That is a top level in Germany. But we have to see that this 40% have enough quality so that they can establish themselves in professional football."
No less important is the development of the coaches. "I'm happy we've been able to bring in an expert as Head of Coaching in Keld Bordinggaard and he will be able to bring us up to a higher level," said Eichin. "We are on track overall."
Linda Schöttler, general manager of the Bayer 04 Women, highlighted the fact that the Women players are on course to their best finish in the season since the start of Women's football at Leverkusen in 2008. "And looking forward to next season, we want to maintain that success and we would also be very happy to go through to the cup final."
Dirk Dreher, general manager of the Veterans team, who have hardly played in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic, have used the time to bring in new players. In future that will include Bayer 04 honorary captain Stefan Kießling plus former Werkself players Hanno Balitsch and Jörg Reeb turning out for the Veterans. There are already requests in the pipeline for next season's indoor tournaments in Regensburg, Berlin and Oldenburg. The Veterans will also be happy to play charity matches again when the situation permits.
As usual during the members meetings', members who passed away over the last year were remembered. And, of course, Jürgen Gelsdorf again thanked a large number of members for their long-term commitment to the club including Bayer 04 assistant coach Peter Hermann who has been a member of the football department at TSV Bayer 04 for 25 years. Matthias Valentin, Norbert Zuschke, Karl-Ernst Helmus, Dr. Horst Bach and Achim Steffens have also been members for that length of time.
Brunhilde Link was celebrated for 40 years of membership. And the following can look back at 50 years: Ludwig Elbern, Matthias Haug, Wolfgang Kwiotek and Joachim Schulz. Harry Gniech, member of the Bundesliga promotion team of 1979, has been associated with the club for 60 years. And 70 years of membership was honoured for another Leverkusen stalwart: Günter Haarmann, who made 511 appearances for Leverkusen between 1958 and 1970 and was a member of the team in 1968 that just missed out on the qualifying round for the Bundesliga against Kickers Offenbach.
The face-to-face celebration of the achievements of the members will be held by the football department at a later date.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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