Bayer 04 Club members have already had it in their hands or in their post box – now the new edition of the Werks11 Magazin is available for all other Black and Reds supporters as an e-paper. In the latest edition, number 29, there is interesting reading material about the Werkself and much else involving Bayer 04.
We have interviewed Sven Bender. The boss at the back is playing his fourth and final season at the Werkself. In the summer, together with his twin brother Lars, he is drawing a line under 15 years of professional football and will leave a void and not only just in Leverkusen. But until that time, Sven still has ambition as he revealed in the Werks11 Magazin interview. And Lucas Alario also has a lot to say in the current edition: In his interview, the 28-year-old talks about the reasons for his impressive form, the significance of the numerous South American players at Bayer 04 for personal well-being plus what it feels like to be on the pitch with Lionel Messi.
We also have an in-depth interview with Fernando Carro. The chairman of the board talks about ambition and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. We look forward to the attractive clash in the Europa League with Young Boys Bern and talk to the Women's head coach Achim Feifel ("The women's ability to take criticism is more pronounced,"). Other subjects include the Volunteers award 2020, the 25th anniversary of the Löwenclub and the 'staywell campaign' run jointly by Bayer AG and Bayer 04.
go out on this Sunday two former players Dominik Kohr (27), Sidney Sam (33) and Jurica Vranjes (41). Happy birthday to all three, have a fantastic day and above all: Stay fit and healthy.
Brought through the ranks at Leverkusen, Dominik Kohr has gone out on loan during the winter transfer window from Eintracht Frankfurt to Mainz 05. In two weeks there is a reunion with the now 27-year-old when the Werkself entertain Mainz at the BayArena Bundesliga matchday 21 (Saturday, 13 February, 15.30 CET).
Sidney Sam is now playing in Turkey's top flight after joining Antalyaspor in the summer. The former Croatia international Jurica Vranjes hung up his boots in 2012 and now works as an agent.
Just three days after the Bundesliga away game at RB Leipzig, the Werkself face the next challenge: The team led by head coach Peter Bosz are away to Regional League side Rot-Weiss Essen on Tuesday 2 February (kick-off: 18.30 CET) in the DFB Cup Round of 16. Ahead of the clash, the Essen police have sent out a warning to fans of the former big club: "Given the current rates of infection, people must not assemble as happened following the game against Fortuna Düsseldorf on 23 December last year," wrote the police in a press release. Essen beat Fortuna Düsseldorf in the second round of the cup – after the surprise win, fans gathered to celebrate at the stadium in Essen. Ahead of the game against the Werkself, the City of Essen and the Essen police announced, "before, during and after the game we will be on duty to monitor the maintenance of coronavirus protection regulations and take action in the event they are breached."
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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In the final international break in the current 2025/26 campaign, Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick with Czechia will be battling for a place at the World Cup. Meanwhile, national teams that have already qualified, include other Werkself players called up, are involved in friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. Read on for an overview of the Leverkusen internationals and their match dates.
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The Werkself kicked off the final international break of the current season on Monday morning with the first of three open training sessions this week. While eleven Bayer 04 players will be away on international duty in the coming days, the other players will be working together in Leverkusen. The next challenge in the Bundesliga awaits on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg.
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