News in brief: Vote for Wirtz as Player of the Month

He deserves it: Florian Wirtz is in the vote for the Bundesliga Player of the Month on the popular football game FIFA 22. The Bayer 04 midfielder made his mark in September with three goals and two assists – his two goals in the Europa League are not counted. you can vote for Flo HERE.

The other nominees are Leroy Sané, Joshua Kimmich (both Bayern Munich), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Günter (SC Freiburg) and Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig).

Market values: Bayer 04 post big growth

The online portal transfermarkt.de has updated the market value of 124 Bundesliga players. The Werkself (+ €34 million) have posted the second-highest increase of all the Bundesliga clubs – behind Borussia Dortmund (+ €38 million). The biggest percentage increase (76.9 per cent) was achieved by central defender Odilon Kossounou, who was able to increase his market value from 13 to 23 million euros. Youngster Florian Wirtz is now worth €65 million after the latest adjustments to market values and he is now one of top five valuable German players according to transfermarkt.de .

Vogts: Wirtz has more Potential than Sané and Co.

Wirtz again and again: The former Germany coach Berti Vogts is “excited” by Leverkusen’s exceptional talent and he predicts the 18-year-old will have a “great career.” Wirtz has “even more potential than international players like Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner,” Vogts wrote in his column on the news website t-online. The 74-year-old hopes the Germany coach Hansi Flick will give the offensive player “lots of time on the pitch and plenty of support over the coming months and years.” Then, Vogts added, Wirtz will have an outstanding career.

#KOEB04: capacity crowd at Derby in cologne

The derby between FC Köln and Bayer 04 will be played in front of a full house for the first time since December 2019. As announced by the neighbours from Cologne on Thursday, spectators will again be allowed to fill the 50,000 seats at the Müngersdorfer Stadium. Approval has been given by the health authority. This is contingent on only the vaccinated and recovered having access to the Arena. Excluded from this rule are children up to the age of 16 and non-vaccinated persons with a medical certificate. Away tickets will go on sale next week.

women: first recovery, then the fan flea market

After the recovery session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the Bayer 04 Women will drop in on the fan flea market on Saturday between 10.00 and 15.00 CEST and join the visitors. In a repeat of last year the stands will be set up on the piazza by the West entrance to the BayArena. Access to the flea market is via Block F (North-West). All proceeds will go to the Leverkusen Community Foundation.

Bierofka no longer Innsbruck coach

The former Bayer 04 player Daniel Bierofka, who made 98 appearances (15 goals) for the Werkself between 2002 and 2005 has been relieved of his duties as coach of the Austrian second division club Wacker Innsbruck. The 42-year-old took charge in August 2020 and he just avoided relegation last term. In the league, Bierofka’s team suffered a third defeat in succession on Sunday. “Unfortunately, the results haven’t gone right in the past few weeks. After intensive discussions between Daniel and I, we have reached the conclusion that a coach of coaches is necessary at this time, ” said Wacker sporting director Alfred Hörtnagl.

congratulations, Lucas Alario and Ralf Minge

Bayer 04 wish Lucas Alario many happy returns of his 29^th birthday. The striker is currently in Argentina with Werkself teammate Exequiel Palacios on international duty. In the night from Thursday to Friday there was a goalless draw for the Albiceleste against Paraguay. The Leverkusen duo are back in action on Monday, 11 October (kick-off: 01.30 CEST), in the game against Uruguay.

Also celebrating this Friday is former Bayer 04 coach Ralf Minge who is now 61. Minge was at Leverkusen for five years (2000 to 2005). Today he is the sporting director at third division Hallescher FC. Happy birthday.