With two and a half weeks to go until the end of the season in Germany's top flight, the DFL, with the support of the video game producer Electronic Arts (EA), has launched the vote for the Team of the Season. Based on official match data from the Bundesliga, the 40 players nominated have all impressed this season. That includes a quintet from Bayer 04 made up of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby, Kerem Demirbay and Patrik Schick.
The vote opened on this Wednesday evening at 19.00 CEST and runs to Sunday 1 May (19.00 CEST). The announcement of the final Team of the Season will be made on Friday 13 May. And the Player of the Season will be announced three days later. This will be decided by votes from the fans for the Team of the Season plus club and pundit votes.
You can vote for the Werkself players here.
A panel will decide which eleven players end up in the team of the season. This is made up of pundits (30% of the vote), Bundesliga legends and selected media partners. In addition, the votes from the fans have a 40% share and 30% is made by the team captains of the 18 Bundesliga clubs.
The eleven best players will be part of the Bundesliga Team of the Season and they will have significantly better values on FIFA 22.
The facial expression fitted in with the beaming sunshine over Leverkusen: The first training session of the week saw Jeremie Frimpong return to the pitch by the BayArena – in football boots and a good mood as usual. While his teammates worked out under head coach Gerardo Seoane, the right-back first greeted all the staff members next to the pitch, had a brief exchange with sporting director Simon Rolfes and then began his individual training routine with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin. That involved passing and sprinting drills.
"His training today was part of the rehab," said head coach Gerardo Seoane after the session. "But he is making good progress so we decided in discussion with the medical staff to bring the player on a bit quicker. It would be desirable for him to have a clean bill of health before the summer break. That would definitely feel good for him."
The 21-year-old Dutchman suffered an ankle injury in the 1-0 home defeat to FC Köln on 13 March. Frimpong underwent a successful operation a few days later under Dr André Morawe at the Aptos Orthoparc clinic in Cologne.
After Lars and Sven Bender risked their necks fighting for Bayer 04 for many years the twins retired from professional football last summer. They enjoy great respect as before in and around Leverkusen thanks to their undying commitment and there permanently honest approach. Reason enough to celebrate the two former Germany internationals on their 33rd birthdays with a review of some of their most successful and emotional moments.
In addition to numerous videos and photos on the social media channels, the new Bayer 04 app features an exciting Bender special of the 11 quiz with interesting questions for Lars and Sven. Test out your knowledge. If you don't have the new app yet, you can download it here.
The former Werkself head coach Roger Schmidt will take over the helm at Benfica. The top Portuguese club today confirmed "fundamental agreement on the appointment," with just formalities left to clear up.
The 55-year-old German coach, in the Leverkusen dugout from July 2014 to March 2017, announced in the middle of February that he would be leaving the top Dutch team PSV Eindhoven at the end of the season. Schmidt takes over from Nelson Verissimo in Lisbon.
It is 35 years ago since a certain Knut Reinhardt joined the Werkself at the tender age of nine. Coming from TuS 05 Quettingen, the midfielder remained under the Bayer Cross for an impressive 14 years and he won the UEFA Cup with the senior team in 1988. The home-grown Leverkusen player moved on to Borussia Dortmund three years after the big win. Reinhardt opted for an unusual path after ending his career as a player in 2001. He became a teacher and is now working at a school in Dortmund. The Hilden-born player today celebrates his 54th birthday – many happy returns from Bayer 04.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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