He is a renowned knee specialist: Dr. Philipp Ehrenstein has been a consultant at the Helios Clinic in Krefeld with main responsibility for arthroscopic surgery on shoulders and knees as well as ankles. The focus of his work is on the reconstruction of ligament injuries in the knee joint – including anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments as well as meniscus surgery.
After the Helios group was taken over by St. Josefshospital Uerdingen in Krefeld at the start of the year, the Bayer 04 orthopaedic surgeon has now been appointed doctor in charge of the newly founded sports clinic at the hospital. The doctors for the ice hockey Bundesliga team Krefeld Pinguine and the team doctor of the Germany rowing eights team also work there. We wish Philipp Ehrenstein every success in his additional professional challenge.
During his ten years at Leverkusen, Kai Havertz developed into a top international player – and now he can call himself a Champions League finalist. The Aachen-born player joined Bayer 04 in the summer of 2010 as a talented 11-year-old. After a decade in the Werkself shirt plus numerous records at the club and in the Bundesliga, the star striker joined Chelsea last summer.
Havertz has recently flourished under the German coach Thomas Tuchel and last weekend he scored a brace to give Chelsea a 2-0 home win against Fulham. Wednesday night brought the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. The former Leverkusen player started up front against Real Madrid and crowned his good performance with an assist for Timo Werner who opened the scoring. The London team won the game 2-0 and the first leg in Spain ended all square at 1-1. Havertz and Chelsea now face Manchester City in the Champions League final on 29 May. Congratulations, Kai - now get your hands on the trophy.
Bayer 04 last year produced a 50-minute documentary on the likeable, grounded home-grown player who made the impressive development from a talented lad from Mariadorf into one of the top international players. Germany teammate Tony Kroos, friend and former teammate Julian Brandt, Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes and the two managing directors Rudi Völler and Fernando Carro look back at special moments with and involving Havertz. HERE is the film.
Another competition, the same aim: The former Bayer 04 goalkeeper Bernd Leno (2011 to 2018) is also looking reach a final on the European stage with Arsenal on Thursday night – in the Europa League. The first leg at Villarreal ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat with the away goal giving the London side a good chance of reaching the final in Gdansk (Poland). The match in London kicks off at 21.00 CEST with RTL Nitro broadcasting the game involving Leno and Co. and is also being being shown live by DAZN. Good luck, Bernd.
Hanno Balitsch and Andreas ‘Zecke’ Neuendorf also used to play for Bayer 04 but have now ended their playing careers. Both decided for a move to the dugout. Last year, the former players together with 23 other participants took part in the 67th coaches course at the DFB and they recently celebrated a successful conclusion to the course.
Midfield enforcer Balitsch, since last year assistant coach with the Germany U20s, made 136 appearances for the Werkself. Neuendorf, now assistant coach at Hertha Berlin, played in 65 games for the Black and Reds. Whole-hearted congratulations from Bayer 04.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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