Rudi Völler, sporting managing director at Bayer 04, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of German football along with nine other "first-rate personalities from the colourful and successful history of German football". The German Football Museum in Dortmund this week presented the Hall of Fame awards with a year's delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Commenting on his induction, the 90-cap international Völler said: "In a country that produces so many outstanding footballers I see it as a great story to be a member of the Hall of Fame."
Michael Ballack, who played for Bayer 04 for five years, is also one of the award winners. The former world class midfielder: "2002 was perhaps my best year as a player even if it 'only' led to four second places with Bayer Leverkusen in the league, cup and the Champions league plus being runners-up with the national team in the World Cup."
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 were Berti Vogts, Andreas Möller and Klaus Fischer. Oliver Kahn, Hans-Jürgen Dörner, Wolfgang Overath, Jürgen Klinsmann and Helmut Schön were in the Hall of Fame for 2019.
Back to the sporting here and now. The eyes of football across Europe will be focused on Porto on Saturday night, 29 May. At 21.00 CEST, the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City will kick off in the Portuguese city. With the London team: Bayer 04 home-grown player Kai Havertz. Ahead of the biggest match in Havertz' career, sporting managing director Rudi Völler found words of praise for the former Leverkusen player: "God has given him everything he needs: He is fast, has great technique, is dangerous in front of goal and strong in the air. He will definitely be in the national team in the future."
The Mariadorf-born Havertz, who we dedicated a TV documentary to in 2020, joined the Leverkusen academy at Kurtekotten in 2010 as an 11-year-old before progressing through all the youth teams and then breaking into the Werkself first team squad where he developed from an exceptional talent into a player with world class potential. On Saturday he has the opportunity to lift the Champions League trophy at the age of 21. We wish you much success, Kai. And remember: You know how to win at the Estadio do Dragão. In 2020, you almost beat FC Porto single-handedly with two assists and a goal in the 3-1 win.
There is another important final a day later in Cologne: On Sunday, 30 May, VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt meet in the Women’s DFB Cup final with the kick off at 15.30 CEST. Three former and one future Bayer 04 players will be taking part.
Both Kathrin Hendrich (Wolfsburg) as well as Theresa Panfil and Barbara Dunst (both Frankfurt) have played for Leverkusen in the past. And VfL keeper Friederike Abt, who joins Leverkusen this summer, will take part in the cup final. In the competition to date, the 26-year-old has been in goal for the Wolves in the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
Turid Knaak has held the DFB Cup aloft twice: With FCR 2001 Duisburg in 2009 and 2010. A year after the second triumph, the attacker signed for Leverkusen where she remained for six years with the exception of a two-month loan to Arsenal. She made an impressive 102 appearances and scored 20 goals for the Black and Reds. Today Knaak plays for Atletico Madrid and is a member of the Germany squad. She has recently achieved something special away from football: After completing a course at the University in Cologne she is now the first Germany Women's player to have a doctors title. Hats off, Turid.
Hans Jörg Butt was 47 years old on Friday. He moved to Leverkusen from Hamburg SV in 2001 and the Oldenburg-born keeper went on to make 263 appearances for the Werkself in six years, keeping 61 clean sheets – and perhaps more remarkable – he scored eight goals as the Bayer 04 keeper. He was feared for his penalties as well as his reflexes on the line. The former Werkself shot-stopper retired nine years ago. We’d like to say thank you for your many saves and goals for Leverkusen and wish you a very happy birthday, Hans Jörg.
He will not only be missed at all the away games for Bayer 04 across Europe but will also leave a hole across sport in Germany: Manfred 'Manni' Ommer passed away a week ago at the age of 70. Born in Bergisch Gladbach, he was an athlete and he won a European Championship silver medal in 1974.
Ommer became a football official after his own career and in the 1980s he caused a surprise as president of FC Homburg from the Saarland when he took them into the Bundesliga. Up to his passing, he was the hotelier of the Werkself team hotel and he was always a VIP fan accompanying Bayer 04 on away games in the Champions League and the Europa League up to the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for your commitment and your loyalty, 'Manni'.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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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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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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