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."
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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