“After a total of 16 eventful and memorable, very demanding and always exciting years at Bayer 04, I will now pursue my career in a different direction,” said Simon Pallmann. “I’m looking forward to new and exciting projects and challenges. Even though I have consciously taken this step, it is very difficult to say goodbye to Bayer 04,” declared the graduate business administrator. “I wish the club and its staff all the very best.”
Fernando Carro, chairman of the board: “On behalf of Bayer 04, I’d like to say a big thank you to Simon Pallmann for all his work. Mr Pallmann has worked for our club over a long period with great professionalism. With his expertise, he has played a big part in Bayer 04 today being a recognised and reliable entity in the football business at home and abroad. I wish him every success for the future.”
For sporting managing director Rudi Völler, Pallmann has, “always been a reliable and loyal representative of our club in all the years we’ve worked together. Simon is particularly at home on the stage of international football,” said Völler. “He represented us brilliantly with his organisational responsibilities at a lot of games in the Champions League and Europa League and he was always a reliable partner of the clubs and associations both in Europe and in the Bundesliga. I wish Simon all the best and I’m sure he will be very successful in the future.”
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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