Four more reports on the new Werkself shirt follow this week.
THE BADGE
A lion was the first trademark of the Bayer AG company over 150 years ago. The design was taken from the coat of arms of Eberfeld, home to the Friedrich Bayer & Co factories. The historic logo provided a source of inspiration for the JAKO designer David Blanch.
The lion image from the 1800s forms part of the Bayer 04 Leverkusen club badge. If you stroke your fingers across it it you can feel fine lines that reflect the look of that historic image.
THE LEVERKUSEN SKYLINE
One special detail on the new Bayer 04 shirt is on the inside of the collar. JAKO designer David Blanch has selected iconic buildings in Leverkusen to produce a skyline design.
On the left are Leverkusen terraced houses. Next to that is the facade of the BayArena with its familiar roof structure. The Lindner Hotel is in front of that.
The water tower is the largest element. The Bayer cross next to it is slightly smaller. Then comes the coach house and the town hall with Schloss Morsbroich on the extreme right.
ELEVEN STRIPES
WE ARE TEAM is the motto of the official kit supplier to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. JAKO have incorporated that concept in the new Werkself shirt. Eleven pin stripes are included on the chest to reflect the eleven players in the Leverkusen side. #TeamWerkself
The design of the kit is made more dynamic with different forms of stripes on the whole shirt. Lines are visible from the chest to the seam.
The team ethic is in the DNA of both partners. The JAKO company has built its success on a very close relationship with customers, retailers and partners alike. That is evident in the new Werkself shirt.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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There’s lots going on at the BayArena today. The home game against FSV Mainz 05 is all about the numerous Bayer 04 fan clubs, whose birth - the founding of the "1. Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen" - dates back 50 years. A number of fan club representatives will be involved in awards, a banner display and a half-time matchday chat, and the Werkself are set to play in a special white fan club jersey. During half-time, Leverkusen mayor Stefan Hebbel and javelin world champion Steffi Nerius will also talk about the Olympic bid involving Leverkusen. Black and Red fans are advised to get to the stadium in good time today. Matchday news.
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The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.
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