A reunion to delight in: Following a positive coronavirus test, midfield dynamo Nadiem Amiri has been in self-isolation since the end of January. The Germany international has now completed his quarantine and returned to full training after negative coronavirus tests on Monday.
In freezing temperatures on Tuesday morning, the Werkself had an extremely intensive session involving ‘Football Fitness Training (FKT)’, which not only involved Amiri but also U19 striker Kingsley Sarpei. Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby and Timothy Fosu-Mensah did not take part. The coaching staff, led by Peter Bosz, decided the three players should train on their own after recently starting every game.
His goal to make it 4-1 in last Saturday’s home game against VfB Stuttgart (final score: 5:2) conferred the next record on Florian Wirtz: The 17-year-old offensive player is now the only U18 to score five Bundesliga goals. Hats off to you, Flo…
The winner of the gold Fritz-Walter-Medal in 2020 was already the youngest goalscorer ever in the Bundesliga at the age of 17 years and 34 days. BVB rising star Youssoufa Moukoko took that record from the Werkself player just before Christmas. The Dortmund centre-forward was just 16 years and 28 days old when his scored his first goal in the league.
And now to an important subject away from the pitch: As one of the first professional clubs, Bayer 04 joined the European Football for Development Network (EFDN) in the summer of 2015. This continuously growing international network aims to use the strengths of European football to benefit community projects in all areas. As EFDN recently announced, the magic number of 100 clubs from across Europe taking part has now been broken.
Through the Sportförderung gGmbH, Bayer 04 have supported a range of projects in the region for many years, including events organised for the day of action ‘WIR (04) helfen’. A large number of Werkself staff and players eagerly take part every year in community action in and around Leverkusen.
One person who has still left their mark on Leverkusen today: Rinus Michels took over as the Werkself coach in the summer of 1988. His time in the Rhineland came to end after just nine months with 31 games in the dugout. Eighteen months later, the former Ajax player took the helm of the Netherlands national team for the fourth time – and, in December 1991, he gave a certain Peter Bosz his debut in a Holland shirt.
The now 57-year-old went on to win another seven caps under Michels. According to Bosz, it was a time that has shaped him right up to now. “Whenever Michels had a meeting with us, I went straight to my room afterwards and immediately wrote down everything in my notebook that he’d said because I didn’t want to forget it,” said Bosz in edition 19 of the Werks11 Magazine in memory of his former mentor who passed away in February 2005. Michels would have been 93 today (Tuesday)…
Andreas Neuendorf, better known in the world of German football as ‘Zecke’ Neuendorf, celebrates his 46th birthday on this Tuesday. The midfielder joined Leverkusen in 1994 from the Foxes from Berlin. He stayed for three and a half years before returning to his birthplace Berlin to play for Hertha. Neuendorf was not completely finished with the Werkself: In 2000 he returned to the Rhineland for a season. Today, ‘Zecke’, who was given his nickname by Bayer 04 legend Ulf Kirsten, is the assistant coach to Pal Dardai at Hertha. Happy birthday.
Also a year older is Angelos Charisteas. The Greek centre-forward played for the Werkself from February to June 2009 on loan from FC Nürnberg (16 games, 2 goals). In the 2019/20 season, Charisteas was working as the sporting director at the Greek club Aris Saloniki. We also wish you a successful and healthy new year, Angelos!
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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