Born in Bochum, Hannes Wolf only played in the Oberliga during his playing career but he has already made a name for himself as a coach at a young age. While studying sport at the Ruhr University in Bochum, he worked as a coach at SG Eintracht Ergste. After moving on to ASC Dortmund he was then signed up by Borussia Dortmund.
At BVB, Wolf – at the age of just 28 – first became the assistant coach with the second team where he worked with players including Sven Bender and a year later he was head coach of the Dortmund U19 side. After that, Wolf also played a leading role with the second team as well as the U17s, winning the German U17 Championship in 2014 and 2015. A year later, he secured the national title with the U19s as well.
Second division VfB Stuttgart heard about Hannes Wolf and signed him up. After arriving in September 2016, the new coach led the Swabian side to the second division title and an immediate return to the top division. Wolf was at VfB for one and a half years. After a couple of months out, he was snapped up by Hamburg SV. The man from Bochum worked in the Hanseatic city for a year as he did with his following employers, the Belgian top-flight club KRC Genk where he took part in the Champions League.
Since October 2020, Wolf has been working for the German Football Association (DFB) as the Germany U18 coach. Bayer 04 appointed the 39-year-old coach as successor to the Dutchman Peter Bosz on 23 March 2021.
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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