
In addition to Julian Brandt, Jonathan Tah and Kai Havertz (Germany), Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria), Lukas Hradecky (Finland), Charles Aránguiz (Chile), Tin Jedvaj (Croatia) and Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20s) are currently away on international duty.
In Austria's 1-0 defeat against Poland on Thursday night, Aleksandar Dragovic and Austria skipper Julian Baumgartlinger were both in the starting line-up. Both the Werkself players went the full distance in the European qualifier. In contrast, Tin Jedvaj was not in the squad for the World Cup runners-up Croatia on their 2-1 win against Azerbaijan in a European qualifier. Youth player Adrian Stanilewicz was not only in the starting eleven for the Poland U 20s but he also completed the full 90 minutes. His team registered a convincing 4-1 victory over Japan.
Remaining fixtures for our lads:
Julian Brandt, Kai Havertz und Jonathan Tah (Germany)
Sunday, 24 March (20.45 CET, Amsterdam): Netherlands vs Germany (European qualifier, Group C)
Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria)
Sunday, 24 March (18.00 CET, Haifa): Israel vs Austria (European qualifier, Group G)
Lukas Hradecky (Finland)
Saturday, 23 March (20.45 CET, Udine): Italy vs Finland (European qualifier, Group J)
Tuesday, 26 March (18.00 CET, Yerevan): Armenia vs Finland (European qualifier, Group J)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia)
Sunday, 24 March (18.00 CET, Budapest): Hungary vs Croatia (European qualifier, Group, E)
Charles Aránguiz (Chile)
Saturday, 23 March (03.15 CET, in San Diego): Mexico vs Chile (Friendly)
Wednesday, 27 March (02.00 CET, Houston): USA vs Chile (Friendly)
Adrian Stanilewicz (Poland U20s)
Tuesday, 26 March (18.00 CET, Bielsko-Biala): Poland U20s vs Germany U20s (Elite League)

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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