
"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.

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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