Fernando Carro, CEO at the Werkself, is looking forward to the partnership: “We have found an innovative partner in Castore whose ambitions very much fit in with Bayer 04. Both the quality of the products as well as the digital and international approach of the company has impressed us. Together with Castore, we want to set new standards in the future primarily in the areas of sponsorship and target group activation.”
Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore, said: “It‘s a significant step for us to start working in the German market with an internationally oriented club with such a history. When we set up Castore the vision of my brother and I was to see world-class athletes wear our products and now we have taken another important step in that direction. It’s an honour that Bayer 04 have chosen Castore. Our values and ambition of wanting to be the best go perfectly together.”
Castore was founded in 2015 and quickly established a reputation as a young and dynamic start-up in the premium sportswear sector. The brand has become well-known through a partnership with Wimbledon and Olympic winner Andy Murray who is now a shareholder in the company. In football, Castore partners with Rangers FC, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and have also just launched a Formula One partnership with McLaren Racing. Bayer 04 will be the first club in the Bundesliga to have a partnership with the British company.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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