Back
6.04.2022Bayer 04

News in brief: Azmoun out with a cold – Andrich returns

The third win on the bounce in sight: Head coach Gerardo Seoane welcomed 15 outfield players and 04 goalkeepers to the Wednesday morning training session at the BayArena. The personnel update from the training ground plus other Black and Red issues in today's news in brief.
crop_20220405_Training_0009.jpg

Lukas Hradecky and Co. spent around 90 minutes mainly on moves in tight spaces and they finished with work on set pieces. Midfield dynamo Robert Andrich trained on his own on Tuesday due to a knock in the match against Hertha Berlin (2-1) but the 27 year-old today completed all the drills with the squad. Absent from the pitch were Karim Bellarabi, who completed an individual session, as well as Sardar Azmoun who is sidelined with a cold.

the Superpowers of the Werkself players

It's time again for another edition of the YouTube format 'Nachgefragt' quiz. The subject under discussion: Which superpower would you like to have? The answers from Charles Aránguiz, Jonathan Tah, Sardar Azmoun and Co. are HERE.

happy birthday

Bayer 04 today congratulates Robert Kovac on his 48th birthday. The Croat signed for Leverkusen from FC Nürnberg in the 1996/97 season. The central defender made a total of 162 appearances for the Black and Reds before moving on to FC Bayern in 2001. The former Werkself player was assistant coach to his brother Niko Kovac at Bayern Munich from 2018 to 2020. His last club was AS Monaco.

Michael Ortega is 31 today. The Colombian joined the Werkself on loan from Atlas Guadalajara for the 2011/12 season. The midfielder made his debut on 18 February 2012 in the 4-1 home win against FC Augsburg. At the end of the season, the former Colombia U20 international returned to his original club and the midfielder then spent a season on loan at the then second division club VfL Bochum. Ortega currently plays for the Colombian top-flight club Deportivo Cali.

Related News

Lobke Loonen
Women - 23.06.2026

Bayer 04 Women start pre-season training

In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.

Show more
Bayer 04 bei der Pride am Rhein
Sustainability - 23.06.2026

Diversity under the Cross: Bayer 04 at Pride on the Rhine in Leverkusen

Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.

Show more
Melissa Friedrich verlängert
Women - 21.06.2026

Eleventh season at Bayer 04: Melissa Friedrich agrees new deal to 2027

Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.

Show more
Afonso Moreira
Bayer 04 - 18.06.2026

Portuguese striker Afonso Moreira joins Bayer 04 from Lyon

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.

Show more