
The Werkself skipper will present his opposite number from Leipzig with a basket of fruit ahead of kick-off. Before that, six members of the Lions Club will hold a banner with the campaign motto '#FitvormTor' ('Fit in front of goal') as the teams come onto the pitch. Furthermore, the BayArena catering will provide a discount on the popular 'Bulgur Cup' on Saturday.
Away from the campaign matchday, Bayer 04 place great value on the subject of health and diet particular with regard to children and teenagers. In addition to the various, age-related campaigns of the 'Bayer 04 goes to school' project, the club is also committed to providing regular exercise opportunities for youngsters – whether that's every day ('Dance shoes for your kindergarten') or at home games (e.g. the Werkslöwenpass for the concourse at the BayArena). On top of that, Bayer 04 organise a range of events to make the issue of health and diet for young and old more attractive: For the youngest there are regular physical activity offers including training like the Werkself or training with the patrons (as at the end of March with Dominick Kohr and the Lion Club kids). There are also constant health-related offers for older fans such as cooking lessons, 'football fans in training' for overweight men and women or walking football sessions for the Silver Lions.
Bayer 04 have other activities planned to raise the profile of the subject of health and diet in the future.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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