Head coach Gerardo Seoane welcomed 23 players to the training ground on Wednesday morning. After the players in the starting line-up went through a recovery session yesterday, everybody was on the training ground this morning. And there was particularly good news: Captain Lukas Hradecky, who was up to now in self-isolation, was able to rejoin his teammates in training again for the first time today.
The DFL vote for EA SPORTS Player of the Month for January is open today – Werkself player Moussa Diaby is included with his hat-trick in the match against FC Augsburg (5-1) standing out. In addition to the France international, also up for the vote are Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller (both FC Bayern), Patrick Wimmer (Arminia Bielefeld), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig).
The #BundesligaPOTM is decided by 40% votes from fans, 30% from clubs and 30% from pundits. You can vote for Moussa HERE.
Gerardo Seoane was not only able to welcome his players to the training ground today but also a birthday boy: His assistant coach Alberto Encinas today celebrates his 40th birthday. The Spanish coach joined Leverkusen from Barcelona at the start of the season where he had been assistant coach for the U19 team since 2017 as well as the Barca second team coach.
Andreas Neuendorf also celebrated his birthday today as he turned 47. 'Zecke' played for the Werkself from 1994 to 1997 as well as 2000 to 2001 before the Berlin-born player returned to his hometown club Hertha Berlin. Neuendorf was the assistant to Pal Dardai at Hertha up to matchday 13.
Many happy returns also to Angelos Charisteas, who is 42 today. The Greek player was signed on loan from FC Nürnberg in 2009. He made 16 appearances scoring two goals and in that year was with the Black and Reds in the DFB Cup final.
Bayer 04 also remember Rinus Michels today. The Dutchman was the Werkself head coach from July 1988 to April 1989 for a total of 31 games. Michels passed away in 2005 and he would have been 94 today.
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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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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During the first international break of the 2026/27 season, set to last just under three weeks, nine Bayer 04 first-team players are in action with their respective national teams. Read on for updates on matches featuring Werkself players…
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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