A unique experience for the young Löwenclub reporters – and Lukas Hradecky clearly enjoyed it too! Maurice and Valentin from the Löwenclub today had the opportunity to put questions to the Werkself number one in a virtual interview. The Finn dedicated half an hour to the young reporters and he answered questions including on his childhood and, of course, his career. The kids were most interested in how the 30-year-old has dealt with the current situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the associated restrictions.
Hradecky also revealed he still had a special professional wish for the future. “I’d like to be a bus driver. And who knows, perhaps I might be the Bayer 04 bus driver one day,” said the Finn with a grin. Even though Maurice and Valentin could ‘only’ get to know their hero via a video call due to the coronavirus pandemic, their joy and excitement were clear to see.
After the 1-0 win at SC Freiburg, the ARD Sportschau has nominated two Bayer 04 players for the team of the matchday: Defender Sven Bender and matchwinner Kai Havertz. The latter was also named in the top team by transfermarkt.de – for the tenth time this season.
Werkself playmaker Kai Havertz broke a record with his winner in Freiburg. The Germany international is the first Bundesliga player to score 35 goals in Germany’s top flight before his 21st birthday. The record was previously held by Dieter Müller (Kickers Offenbach and FC Köln): The striker scored his 35th league goal at the age of 21 and 18 days in 1975.
The Bayer 04 Women beat TSG 1899 Hoffenheim this afternoon to go through to the DFB Cup semi-finals - and in a spectacular manner! The scoreline was 1-1 at 90 minutes. Ivana Rudelic netted a brace in extra time. Hoffenheim’s Tabea Waßmuth pulled a goal back but the Leverkusen women went through to last four. Click HERE for the match report.
The DFB officially decided to end the season in the youth sector a few days ago. That means the end of the 2019/20 season for the Bayer 04 youth teams. How was that decision received under the Bayer Cross? And what does training look like for the U19 and U17 in the times of coronavirus pandemic? Bayer04.de recently interviewed the U19 coach Markus von Ahlen and U17 coach Jan Hoepner on this and many other issues.
Two former Werkself players are on the current and 67th DFB coaching course. Hanno Balitsch, from 2002 to 2005 and 2010 to 2012 at Bayer 04, and Andreas Neuendorf (from 1994 to 1998 with the Black and Reds) both played for the Werkself. While Balitsch is now assistant coach with the Germany U19s, Neuendorf is the coach of the Hertha Berlin Reserves. The course participants are being taught for the third time by Daniel Niedzkowski, head of coach training. The 43-year-old was assistant coach to Roger Schmidt at Bayer 04 for three years (2013-16).
FIFA today demanded that protests and declarations of solidarity by football players after the death of the African American George Floyd in the USA should not be punished. Sanctions are the responsibility of the individual organisers of the competitions but they should exercise common sense. Floyd died in Minneapolis last week during a police operation after a white policeman held him down with his knee on his neck.
Subsequently, Schalke’s Weston McKennie, the Dortmund players Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi, Gladbach’s Marcus Thuram and FC Köln’s Anthony Modeste showed their opposition to racism and police violence with a range of actions on the pitch. As this is forbidden under the DFB rule book, the DFB committee of control will investigate the facts of the case.
No Brazilian has scored as many goals for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga as Paulo Sergio, who went on to play for AS Roma and, just like Jorginho, for Bayern Munich. The winger played for Bayer 04 for four years from 1993 and he scored 47 goals in 121 league game. The twelve-time Brazil international ended his playing career in the summer of 2004. The former Werkself player today celebrates his 51st birthday. Bayer 04 wish him many happy returns.
From Mexico to Manchester United, from there via Real Madrid to Bayer 04. Javier Hernandez alias Chicharito played for the Werkself for two years (2015-17) and he undoubtedly became a crowd favourite amongst the Black and Reds supporters. The 1.75 metre tall Mexican made 76 appearances and scored 39 goals during his time in Leverkusen. Chicharito now plays for LA Galaxy in the USA. He was 32 years old yesterday, Bayer 04 wish him a belated happy birthday.
The Bayer 04 women’s team secured a win in the friendly during the international break. Without a total of eight international players, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team defeated Bundesliga 2 side Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 at the Kurtekotten Training Centre, thanks to goals from Lobke Loonen (1’, penalty), Caroline Kehrer (41') and Valentina Mädl (66').
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without striker Christian Kofane in the coming weeks. The 20-year-old sustained a muscle injury to his left thigh on international duty with the Cameroon national team during the recent international break. This will prevent him from playing in the upcoming Werkself matches.
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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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Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fans ask, Carolin Simon answers: As part of Bayer 04’s second Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit, the Leverkusen captain took questions from the community. The full-back, who returned to the club this summer after ten years away, set aside an hour and a half for the Q&A session with fans, offering a very personal insight into, amongst other things, her daily life as a footballer and her role as captain, as well as her passion for Pokémon.
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