The venue, where coach Heiko Herrlich will hold soon his press conferences before and after Bundesliga matches, was a hive of activity on Thursday afternoon. Around 60 children were in the media centre at the BayArena waiting for their Werkself star to appear on the top table. When the newly crowned U21 European Champion Dominik Kohr entered the room his name was announced as is usual for home games at the BayArena.
The youngsters then had the opportunity to pose a whole range of questions. The kids wanted to know from the 23-year-old who his best friend is in the team, what he most like doing in his own time, who his favourite opponents are, where favourite stadiums are, what his dog's called, what was his first football club, what he thinks of women's football and what size shoe he takes. The Werkself number 21 answered the questions with humour and charm.
After a question and answer session lasting 90 minutes, Dominik Kohr, who returned to Bayer 04 this summer after two years on loan at FC Augsburg, took time out to sign autographs. The event ended with a communal photo.
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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