
"They are the poster boys of the Bundesliga: Players who make the difference for their teams," was the slogan in the Sky broadcast 'Stars of the Bundesliga'. And the new episode is all about Lucas Alario. With eight Bundesliga goals in the current season, ten assists and a total of 28 shots on goal, the Werkself striker is at the top of the rankings. Reason enough to take a closer look at the Argentinian and his route to the Bundesliga. In addition to teammate Wendell and sporting director Simon Rolfes, several other contemporaries of our number 13 get the chance to speak. The 30-minute episode will be broadcast on Sky Sport Bundesliga 1 on Thursday at 23.00 CET and will be available online afterwards.
Benjamin 'Benny' Henrichs will not be on the pitch on Saturday 30 January (kick-off: 18.30 CET) in the top match between RB Leipzig and Bayer 04. Persistent knee problems have sidelined the former Leverkusen defender. The 23-year old is currently on loan at RB Leipzig from Ligue 1 club AS Monaco. On Saturday, he will be available for interview by the broadcaster Sky. During the broadcast, Henrichs will not only talk about his time in the Principality and in Saxony but also look back at his past in Black and Red. He wore the Bayer 04 shirt for 14 years.
Benny is not the only one to enjoy great appreciation from Julian Nagelsmann as Peter Bosz is also highly rated by the RB Leipzig coach. At the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash on Saturday night, the 33-year-old was really enthusiastic: "I consider Peter Bosz to be one of the most accomplished coaches that we have, not only in the Bundesliga but also in Europe." He believes the Dutchman lets all his teams play "great and successful football." Nagelsmann added: "My former players have continued to improve under him." Last season, Nagelsmann coached Patrik Schick at RB Leipzig and he worked at Hoffenheim for considerably longer with Kerem Demirbay (2016-19) and Nadiem Amiri (2016-19 including youth teams). Talking about our number 11 at the press conference, Nagelsmann said: "If I had a kickabout on the recreation ground with Amiri then I would know exactly what he wants to do."
Organised football was already being played in the 19th century – there were rules, clubs, associations, regional champions and even international fixtures. But there was a need for a central organisation. So, exactly 121 years ago, on 28 January 1900, the German Football Association (DFB) was founded in Leipzig. Six club representative were brought together six months before to organise a foundation meeting for a 'General German Football Association'. 36 people representing 86 clubs responded to the invitation to "all football clubs of the Empire and from Germany – Austria" and made their way to the "First General Football Meeting". The DFB was founded by a vote of 64 for and 22 against and since then has been in charge of regulating matches in Germany.

Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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