
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.

Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Austria or Kosovo? Claudia Wenger or Lumbardha Misini? Only one of these two Bayer 04 women will see her dream of competing at the World Cup in Brazil (24 June to 25 July 2027) live on beyond the next two weeks. From a Leverkusen perspective, the two direct clashes between the Werkself players as they battle for a place in the second play-off round stand out during the upcoming international break. For several other players, the chance of a World Cup place is also at stake. Bayer04.de provides an overview of the women’s international call-ups.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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