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 Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
Show more
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
Show more
On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
