Bayer 04 are already committed to the city in a number of ways. The club supports a range of projects and runs the annual 'Wir(04)helfen' charity day that helps with the refurbishment of nurseries, schoolyards and green spaces. This tried and tested cooperation is now to be extended and established on a wider basis.
The aim of both partners is to significantly improve the visibility of the club within the city and also jointly implement measures and projects important to the community.
"Bayer 04 Leverkusen is not only a significant commercial enterprise but, above all, one of the most important factors in the image of our city," said the mayor Uwe Richrath. "I'm very much looking forward to putting our existing partnership on a contractual basis and further extending the commitment of the club in the city."
"As a club, we benefit to a great extent from the commitment of council employees particularly on matchdays," said Fernando Carro, managing director of Bayer 04. "With this contract, we want to document our understanding of the acquisition of social and communal responsibility. Accordingly, we are very keen that Bayer 04 plays a visible and tangible role in the life of the city of Leverkusen."
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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