
For the Bayer 04 CEOs Fernando Carro de Prada and Michael Schade "This partnership is both fitting and ambitious: On the one hand, an international company with over 50 years experience of health-oriented, efficient weight training founded on a scientific basis with in-house machines represents an extraordinary success story. On the other hand, a top German club active all over the world able to use the expertise of the new partner directly to achieve ambitious sporting targets," said Schade.
Michael Antonopoulos, CEO and co-owner of Kieser Training, sees the commitment to a Bundesliga club " as a unique opportunity to associate our sporting concept with such a successful club and to further extend the use of weight training. We are looking forward very much to a long-term and successful partnership."
And for sporting director Rudi Völler the long-term cooperation with Kieser Training represents an ideal development: "Having established themselves as a globally respected and recognised professional provider of weight training since 1967, they have impressively demonstrated their expertise," said Völler. "Kieser Training is a brand established in the minds of people and is synonymous with effective and healthy muscle development. A real constant in a market shaped by temporary fitness fashions and thereby a great partner we can look forward to working with very much here at Leverkusen."
Founded in 1967 by the Swiss Werner Kieser, the weight training chain currently has 158 studios with 283,000 members, which are partly operated as franchise studios. With around 1,700 employees in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg and Australia, every single Kieser Training studio provides professional training management and support as well as a consistent offer based on continuing scientific research. This creates a company personality of unmistakable character with the public.

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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There’s lots going on at the BayArena today. The home game against FSV Mainz 05 is all about the numerous Bayer 04 fan clubs, whose birth - the founding of the "1. Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen" - dates back 50 years. A number of fan club representatives will be involved in awards, a banner display and a half-time matchday chat, and the Werkself are set to play in a special white fan club jersey. During half-time, Leverkusen mayor Stefan Hebbel and javelin world champion Steffi Nerius will also talk about the Olympic bid involving Leverkusen. Black and Red fans are advised to get to the stadium in good time today. Matchday news.
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The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.
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