The son of a Spanish immigrant, born and raised in Luzern, made 227 top-flight appearances in Switzerland. Seoane played for FC Luzern, FC Sion, FC Aarau and the Zürich club Grasshoppers. According to a number of football afficianados in Switzerland, the fact the talented central defender "only" played for the Switzerland U21s is in part due to an unconventional career decision. At the age of 19, he joined the Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna. However, Seoane was unable to make a breakthrough in the Galician home of his parents. He only played for the second team at Deportivo in his three and a half years on the Iberian peninsular.
He ended his playing career at FC Luzern at the age of 31 in 2010 and then became a youth coach at his hometown club. When Markus Babbel was dismissed as coach in January 2018, he took over as first-team manager and within half a season led the club from a relegation spot to third place. That attracted the attention of the big clubs in Switzerland. In the end, Young Boys Bern, who had just won the Swiss league, appointed Seoane as successor to Adi Hütter.
'Gerry', as he is widely known in Switzerland, continued his run of success in the capital. He further developed the attacking approach of his predecessor and the team stormed their way to the top of the league. Young Boys became Swiss champions with 99 goals and a 20-point lead. A year later came a successful title defence and in the current campaign YB are also already confirmed champions of Switzerland with seven games to play. The lead over the second-placed team from Basel is 28 points.
In addition, the Swiss club reached a European Round of 16 for the first time since the 1980s. They came through in a group with CFR Cluj and CSKA Sofia and knocked Bayer 04 out in the next round. However, the Swiss champions were unable to overcome Ajax in the Round of 16.
For the former Gladbach keeper Jörg Stiel, Gerardo Seoane is an "intelligent, young, ambitious coach. He communicates really well." The new Werkself coach not only speaks perfect German and Spanish. 'Gerry' also speaks French, English, Italian and Portuguese fluently. In addition, he has continued to develop his knowledge in management and communication. "If he maintains this thirst for knowledge," the Swiss manager Erich Vogel is sure, "he can develop into an absolute top coach and follow in the footsteps of Ottmar Hitzfeld."
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Guéla Doué’s first 30 minutes in a Bayer 04 shirt during the draw away at Augsburg have definitely made the summer signing eager for more. The 23-year-old may have had to bide his time following his move from Strasbourg due to a muscular injury, but he’s been able to get a good taste of the BayArena atmosphere while watching from the stands in the home wins over Celje and RB Leipzig, as the Ivory Coast international explained in a chat with media representatives. “The fans’ enthusiasm and passion are incredible,” said Doué, looking forward to what lies ahead. The defender also spoke about his plans for a comeback, his teammates and his younger brother Désiré.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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