The event in Leverkusen was attended by representatives from Inter Milan, Sporting CP, Rapid Vienna, Real Sociedad, Rangers, Feyenoord and Anderlecht. They all received a detailed view of the work at the Werkself on and off the pitch. “We now find a very high level of ability at many performance centres. However, there are three key points where we stand out at Bayer 04: the holistic training system for the players, the special coaches training and the new fitness concept applicable to all age groups,” explained Thomas Eichin, head of the Performance Centre..
Those areas were the focus of workshop over several days. The first day started with a tour of Kurtekotten including discussions with the management of the youth section. Watching the youth teams train was also on the agenda.
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The focus on day two was initially on the education set-up. Jutta Wellmann, school coordinator, and Frank Ditgens (head of education) presented the lecture. “Youth development work here is marked by long-term, constant developments in a calm environment with established contacts over the long term. That brings together our idea of seeing football, fun, values, education and development in a holistic system. We place great emphasis on dual careers,” explained Wellman.
In the afternoon, Keld Bordinggaard explained the structure of the Bayer 04 coaching academy. “The creation of a well-founded further education system for the club’s coaches is the foundation of sporting success. That includes the constant development of expertise in terms of the Bayer 04 approach and thereby a continual improvement in the individual development of our coaches and players,” explained the 59-year-old head of the section created in 2020.
Simon Rolfes joined the group on Thursday morning. The sporting managing director welcomed the participants and used the opportunity to get to know the club representatives. Football was the focus here with the final day dedicated to the fitness concept. Erik Roqueta, U19 fitness coach, presented a range of drills and key points in training in the youth section: “We want to be preventive and actively include football-specific and physical and fitness elements in our sessions. That helps to reduce the likelihood of injury. At the same time, we are working towards a physical advantage compared to our rivals,” Roqueta explained.
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The target of the ECA Academy is to hold these workshops at the different venues of the participating clubs on a regular basis to promote a joint exchange on the European level and encourage the further development of European youth football. “We’ve had three highly productive days with interesting and valuable discussions,” said Eichin after the event. “We are very much looking forward to visiting other clubs and adding substance to the idea of the Academy.”
The European Club Association was founded in 2008 and is an independent organisation that represents and promotes the interests of football clubs at a European level. Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro has been a member of the ECA board since 2021 and he is also on the committee for UEFA club competitions. Further information on the ECA can be found HERE.
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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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 personal 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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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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