The editors of the Kicker sports journal produce a ranking of German football twice a year. The deciding factor is "the performance produced over the assessment period." – In this case the first half of 2022. The Thursday edition gave the results for the positions of full-back, defensive midfield and attacking midfield.
Robert Andrich received a special mention: The summer signing from Union Berlin was named the best defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga in the second half of the season. The 27-year-old "has long become a key player in Bayer's game. An influencer on the pitch […]. As usual, he stood out with his strength in challenges and his ability to drive play forwards." Behind Andrich in the category of International class are Salih Özcan (FC Köln) and Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig). Werkself stalwart Charles Aránguiz ("A leader particularly in the final stage!") secured a creditable seventh place. Congratulations to the two of you.
Up to his torn cruciate in the middle of March, Florian Wirtz was flying high in the Bundesliga shining with his outstanding technique and his creativity. Involvement in five goals in nine league games since the turn of the year speaks for itself. So it's no wonder that the 19-year-old is included in the category of International class – moreover as the only and, at the same time the highest ranked Bundesliga player. The explanation from Kicker: "Up to his injury, the Germany international was on his own at the top in offensive midfield. No other attacking midfielder in the league came close to his average mark of 2.63 in the Rückrunde." Congratulations to you too, Flo – and here’s hoping you get better soon.
Jeremie Frimpong is ranked eighth in the position of full-back. The 21-year-old right-back who, like Florian Wirtz, was ruled out for the rest of the season by injury in the middle of March, was rated National class. The explanation: "Leverkusen apply a lot of pressure to opponents with his pace. When he was injured it was clear how significant he was on the right side of the Bayer attacking game."
And the awards carry on – this time in the form of a medal: Bayer 04 player Paulinho has been awarded the Pedro Ernesto medal for his performances at the Olympic Games. The Selecao beat Spain 2-1 in the final in Tokyo to take the gold medal. You've earned that honour, Pauli."
Ecuador with Werkself player Piero Hincapie have won the first of three friendly matches in the current international break. At the New York Red Balls Stadium, Pervis Estupian (Villareal) scored the only goal of the game against Nigeria on three minutes. Hincapie played the full 90 minutes. The World Cup participants have their next friendly against Mexico on 6 June and that is followed by a match against Mali five days later.
Günter Thiel drove the Werkself all over Germany and Europe for three decades. Günni, as he was known by players and coaches, has passed away at the age of 83. Thiel left the Werkself in March 2004 at a Bundesliga home match with Reiner Calmund presenting him with an honorary season ticket and a golden steering wheel with a Bayer 04 logo. As the team bus driver, Thiel experienced both the UEFA Cup triumph in 1988 as well as the DFB Cup win in 1993. Rest in peace, Günni.
The long-standing Leverkusen player Thomas Kleine has found a new coaching job. The 44-year-old succeeds Timo Rost in charge of SpVgg Bayreuth newly promoted to the third division. The Wermelskirchen-born manager was assistant coach at Fortuna Düsseldorf for five years under Friedhelm Funkel for most of that time.
Kleine joined the Bayer 04 second team from SV Wermelskirchen in the summer of 1998. He made the step up to the first team after three years where he made 22 appearances in central defence up to 2003 – including eight in the UEFA Champions League.
Moreover: Kleine was a guest on the Werkself podcast just before Christmas last year.
Do you want to watch live sport at the weekend? No problem. The female U19 handball team of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen are in the final four for the German championships. The semi-finals on Saturday 4 June will be played at the Leverkusen Ostermann Arena in close proximity to the BayArena as well the third-place match and the final a day later. Further details are available HERE.
Following Paulo Sergio's birthday yesterday, Cris, another Brazilian who played for the Werkself, celebrates his birthday. The former central defender joined Leverkusen in January 2003 on a six-month loan from Cruzeiro in his home country and he played seven matches for Bayer 04 – four of them in the Champions League. He became a coach after ending his playing career in 2014. Chris is currently at the helm of French third division club FC Le Mans. Congratulations on your 45th birthday.
Traveling to North America for the World Cup this summer to see your favorite Bayer 04 players? Here’s a quick cheat sheet with thumbnail portraits and insider tips for each city from a local expert, so you can make the most of your visit and activities beyond the game!
Show more
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
Show more
On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
Show more
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
Show more
When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
Show more
