Moussa Diaby is in the vote for February Player of the Month. The Bayer 04 winger scored 04 goals in the 04 Bundesliga matches over the month. You can vote for our France international HERE.
In addition to Diaby, Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern), Jonas Hofmann, Alassane Plea (both Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) and Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) have also been nominated. Youngster Florian Wirtz won the vote for Player of the Month in September and striker Patrik Schick collected the most votes in December.
Germany coach Hansi Flick will announce his squad at the start of the World Cup year on 18 March. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) today (Wednesday). Germany play Israel in Sinsheim on 26 March and that is followed three days later by the classic fixture against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. In the last World Cup qualifier – the 4-1 win against Armenia in the middle of November – Jonathan Tah was in the starting line-up and Florian Wirtz was with Germany in the previous international break.
The German Football League (DFL) has taken a stand for peace since the start of the Ukraine war under the motto "We help. Together for Ukraine." Large numbers of players from Bundesliga clubs are sending clear messages via the social media channels of the DFL – that includes Jonathan Tah. HERE are the statements of our central defender.
In spite of the difficult economic situation of the professional clubs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the DFL is supporting the state associations of the German Football Association (DFB) with €1 million in the current season. The DFL agreed that decision unanimously. The financial support of the DFL for the DFB state associations since the start of the pandemic has now reached €5 million.
Good news on the TV market: Sky Germany has secured the broadcasting rights to the Women's DFB Cup over the long term. The new agreement runs to the end of the 2025/26 season as the broadcaster announced yesterday (Tuesday). The Bayer 04 Women qualified for the semi-finals a few days ago thanks to a 2-1 win after extra time away to SGS Essen. The semi-final will be played on the Easter weekend (17/18 April) in Leverkusen and the opponents are FFC Turbine Potsdam.
Bayer 04 congratulate Pirmin Schwegler on his 35th birthday. The Swiss player joined Leverkusen from FC Luzern for the start of the 2005/06 season. Following a period on loan at Young Boys Bern, the midfielder joined Eintracht Frankfurt after four years. Schwegler is now working as head scout at FC Bayern. Many happy returns.
Bayer 04 also congratulate Martin Frydek. The former Werkself player today celebrates his 53rd birthday. The former Czech Republic international came to Leverkusen from Sparta Prague in 1997/98 and he made a total of 14 appearances for the Black and Reds. The midfielder moved on to MSV Duisburg a year later. Happy birthday.
Ioannis Masmanidis is 39 today. The Leverkusen-born player went through all the youth teams at the Werkself and progress to the second team, then join the first-team squad and went on to make his debut for the Black and Reds in the top flight. Th
Bayer 04 also remember Richard Job. He would have been 101 years old today. Job played (also as player coach) between 1939 and 1949 and, after one season at TSG Vohwinkel, he returned to the Werkself from 1950 to 1955. In 1951 he gained promotion to the top flight. Job passed away in 2010.
Hans Brenzler also played for Leverkusen from 1967 to 1970. The former goalkeeper made 70 appearances in the Regional League for the Werkself and he would have been 86 years old today.
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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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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