
'Das aktuelle Sportstudio’ on ZDF is one of the most famous sports programmes in Germany. Leverkusen sporting managing director Rudi Völler is the guest in the studio in Mainz this Saturday evening, 3 April. The 60-year-old will discuss a number of issues with presenter Sven Voss including his decision not to extend his contract at Bayer 04 due to run out in 2022.
In an interview with Sport Bild, Völler recently spoke about his decision: "I discussed this with my wife Sabrina at Christmas. Since then it's been clear that 2022 will be the end for me. At least in this form. Now is the right time because the club is fundamentally in a good position."
Bayer 04 head coach Hannes Wolf opted for a training session split in two on Wednesday: The warm-up and the following passing drills were completed by Charles Aránguiz and Co. at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with the second part of the session on the pitch at the BayArena. There was an intense 11 v 11 match for the Werkself. Following on from the session on Tuesday, U19 players Marvin Alexa (see photo below) and Joshua Eze joined the group.

Lennart Grill completed his first training session under new coach Wolf. The goalkeeper has returned from the U21 European Championship where progress to the last eight was secured for Germany last night thanks to a goalless draw with Romania. For Grill and Co. the competition continues with the quarter-finals in Székesfehérvár in Hungary on 31 May. This will involve the teams that finished first and second in the four groups.
Wolf will hold training sessions every day up to the Bundesliga home game against Schalke 04 on Saturday, 3 April (kick-off: 15.30 CEST). The match against the bottom side will be the first game for the 39-year-old as the Werkself head coach.
The new Werks11 Magazine is on its way to Bayer 04 members. As usual, edition 30 includes a wealth of interesting information relating to the Werkself and life at Bayer 04. Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04, has met with four representatives of the fans to discover their experience of football during the coronavirus pandemic.

The editors met up with Nadiem Amiri for an interview at a football pitch in Rheindorf. A detailed look at our three winter signings Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Jeremie Frimpong and Demarai Gray is included as is a portrait of goalkeeper Lennart Grill. There is also an introduction to the Japanese player Mina Tanaka from the Bayer 04 Women's team plus the new U19 coach Sven Hübscher. On top of that, there are a large number of other entertaining articles, reports and impressive photos from the Black and Red world.
Once again you are spoilt for choice. Bayer 04 are looking for the best goal in the month of March 2021 presented by like2drive. The nominations this time round are the Werkself striker Patrik Schick, U19 player Samed Onur plus Chiara Bücher and Mina Tanaka from the Women's team. Click HERE to vote on Facebook.
The German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) last year introduced a course on management in professional football. Stefan Kießling, first team coordinator at Bayer 04, was one of 14 participants to start the course. In a recent interview with bayer04.de, the former player revealed details of the qualification which could become compulsory for Bundesliga managers in the future. As the head of the DFB Academy Tobias Haupt revealed to the news website t-online, the DFB and DFL are already holding intensive discussions on an appropriate change to the statutes.

Anders als bei Trainern – diese müssen den Fußball-Lehrer-Lehrgang durchlaufen, um in der Bundesliga als Chefcoach arbeiten zu können – gab es bei den Managern der Bundesliga bis 2020 keine klassische Standardausbildung. Die Wege in das Berufsfeld waren daher unterschiedlichster Natur.

Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
Show more
The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
Show more
One ticket, two matches – and a varied programme of events, including appearances by players from the professional teams: Bayer 04 has come up with something very special for the 2026 season launch on Saturday, 8 August. From morning right through to the evening, Werkself fans can use just one ticket to not only enjoy top-class football from the Bayer 04 teams live, but also to experience unforgettable moments with the whole family through a variety of hands-on activities around the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The day will also end on a real high note: after both matches, Bayer 04 supporters will have the opportunity to interact directly with the players during joint activities and get to know them from a different angle.
Show more
Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.
Show more