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.
Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
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Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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With the 2026/27 season set to kick off with a DFB Pokal tie away to SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 22 August, 13:00 CEST), the squad numbers for two Werkself players have now been confirmed. New signing Afonso Moreira will wear the number 9, which he has already worn in pre-season friendlies. Lucas Vázquez is switching from number 21 to number 17 – the number he wore successfully at Real Madrid for many years.
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