News in brief: Congratulations to Krösche and da Costa

Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt won the final of the UEFA Europa League yesterday (Wednesday 18 May). Eintracht beat Glasgow club Rangers 5-4 on penalties. Two of the Frankfurt set-up with a Bayer 04 past have played their part in European success for the Eagles. Eintracht sporting director Markus Krösche was assistant coach at the Werkself under Roger Schmidt from July 2015 to March 2017. He then moved on to SC Paderborn as sporting managing director and then to RB Leipzig as sporting director. The Hannover-born manager was brought in by the newly crowned Europa League winners last season.

Right-back Danny da Costa joined Bayer Leverkusen as an eight year old. Born in Neuss, he progressed through all the youth teams at the Werkself during his time at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. His first appearance for the senior team at Bayer 04 came in 2011/2012 under coach Robin Dutt. The 28-year-old defender played for Eintracht Frankfurt in both group matches against Fenerbahçe in the Europa League. Congratulations Danny and Kröschi!

Völler: we have to stick together in the bundesliga

Bayer 04 sporting managing director Rudi Völler congratulated Eintracht on their cup triumph: “We have to stick together in the Bundesliga. Therefore it’s good for us that we have the team that’s won this trophy.”

Winning the UEFA Europa League qualifies Eintracht Frankfurt the Champions League group stage in 2022/23 and they will join the Werkself in Europe’s premier club competition next season. The Bundesliga quintet in the Champions League also includes Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.  

schick Record shirt up for auction

It was a typical centre-forward’s goal: A through ball from Moussa Diaby to Patrik Schick who comes from deep to slot the ball through the legs of keeper Kevin Trapp to make it 2-0. The second goal in the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday 2 May was also historic. It was goal number 22 of the season for the Czech Republic striker – no other foreign player at the Werkself has scored more goals in a season. The previous best at the club was Dimitar Berbatov with 21 goals.

The shirt, which our number 14 wore in the second half and later signed, is now up for auction. The funds raised will go to Gesellschaft Bochum-Donezk e.V., who are providing food and relief supplies for people in the Ukraine. Here is the link to the auction.

Roger Schmidt joins Benfica 

Former Werkself coach Roger Schmidt is taking over as the head coach at Portuguese record champions Benfica next season. The 55-year-old manager has signed a two-year contract to 2024. The Kierspen-born coach leaves Dutch top-flight club PSV Eindhoven after two seasons and a cup win in 2022. Schmidt was in the Bayer 04 dugout from July 2014 to March 2017 with two of those years alongside Markus Krösche as assistant coach.

many happy returns, Tim

Bayer 04 congratulate Tim Handwerker on his birthday. The left-back at second division FC Nürnberg came through the ranks at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. The now 24-year-old played for the Black and Reds for ten years. The Bergisch Gladbach-born defender joined FC Köln from the Bayer 04 U19s in the summer of 2017. His move to FC Nürnberg in 2019/20 followed a loan deal at FC Groningen in the Netherlands.