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!
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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