
The players completed a range of diagnostic procedures including the functional movement screen and spiroergometry in the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehab and training centre, on the third floor of the BayArena.
First up were a group comprising U19 new signing Madi Monamay, Zidan Sertdemir and Iker Bravo. Under the eyes of the coaching staff of Gerardo Seoane, Patrick Schnarwiler and Alberto Encinas they started with physical measurements carried out by the fitness and physio team. Then came the first strenuous minutes on exercise bikes looking out onto the training ground. The other players followed in small groups.









With loud music – the songs were chosen by Robert Andrich – and high spirits there were several drills on the training area on isometric and hip power measurement before functional agility was assessed using FMS and Y balance tests. With these methods and a standardised sequence of movements, key figures were recorded in the areas of ordination, agility and stability.
The most strenuous part of the Bayer 04 performance test always comes at the end: spiroergometry. All players end the day on the treadmill – complete with a respirator mask. Spiroergometry determines the maximum endurance potential. With crimson faces and bathed in sweat they all richly deserved the chance to cool down at the end.
Seoane will welcome his players to the training ground for the first time in this preseason tomorrow, Monday 27 June. The session starts at 10.30 CEST in the shadow of the BayArena. The training session on pitches one and two is open but car park P3 between the stadium and the training ground is closed until the end of July due to an event in and around the BayArena.
HERE is the information on the resumption of training.

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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