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.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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