
"Leverkusen are currently one of the best teams in the world," highlighted Mexico national team boss Lozano, around 10 years after his previous visit to the BayArena for a Werkself home match. "The way they play and go about it is very impressive. Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga have been highly regarded in Central and South America for many years and attract great interest. We Mexicans love watching the games of clubs like Bayer 04, Dortmund or Bayern."
Lozano used his visit to Leverkusen to learn a thing or two about the day-to-day work of the coaching team led by Xabi Alonso and the club's management. "Xabi, his staff and the entire club are doing a great job," said the 45-year-old: "That's also being heard in Mexico. The positive development of the club is being followed with great interest there."

After attending the Werkself's training session on Tuesday outside the BayArena, Lozano and his three fellow coaches also used the time under the Cross to hold talks with Bayer 04 bosses, including CEO Fernando Carro. "We are happy about every exchange and every new experience that we can take away from such trips," said Lozano, who also visits the Mexican internationals playing in Europe with his coaching team.
For the Mexican national team, the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Panama is on the horizon in around four weeks' time. Then in the summer there's an unusual highlight: Mexico, like the USA and Canada, will take part in the Copa America, the South American continental tournament. The three nations from the North and Central American Football Association will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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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