
Lehnhoff started his playing career in 1984 at FC Köln before moving to Belgium in 1987 where he proved to be very successful as a winger for FC Royal Antwerp – winning the Belgian cup competition in 1992 and in the following year reaching the final of the European Cup Winners Cup. And he is still very much revered in Antwerp many years later: On the 125th anniversary of the oldest football club in Belgium, he was voted the best player in the club's history.
Hans-Peter signed for Bayer 04 in 1994. The 57-year-old can look back at a turbulent time in a Werkself shirt: After narrowly avoiding relegation in 1996, he was twice runner-up in the next two seasons. Since retiring from the game – he does still occasionally play for the Bayer 04 Veterans – he has worked as the team liaison manager, the first in German professional football. In this role, he takes care of organisational matters involving the Werkself such as coordinating events and booking hotels.
Happy birthday, Hans-Peter Lehnhoff.
















Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
Show more
Back at the BayArena at last! For the first time since the summer break, the Werkself played at their home ground in the 2026 season launch – and went on to beat Sevilla in the fifth preseason friendly. Patrik Schick turned the game around after Miguel Sierra put the visitors ahead (16’), scoring twice in the second half (66’, 79’) to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans in the new seats at the BayArena. New signing Miguel Gutiérrez was delighted to provide the assist for the equaliser on his debut under the Bayer Cross.
Show more
Spurred on by a flawless hat-trick from Cornelia Kramer, the Bayer 04 women’s team won their penultimate pre-season friendly in commanding fashion. As part of the season launch, the Werkself beat Dutch top-flight side Feyenoord 7–0. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, Kramer (6’, 25’, 45’), Sofie Zdebel (47’), Maja Sternad (59'), Natasha Kowalski (83') and Vanessa Fudalla (86') scored the goals for coach Roberto Pätzold’s side.
Show more