The then Austria goalkeeper joined Bayer 04 from FC Ingolstadt in 2016. As a reliable back-up keeper, ‘Rambo’ made eight appearances for the Werkself in the following four years at national and European level and the dream of playing in the Champions League became a reality in December 2016.
“Rambo can look back at an exceptional career. Here at Bayer 04, he has always been a valuable member of the goalkeeping set-up and the whole team,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes. “He encouraged the others with his professionalism and ambition and was a real team player off the pitch. He will be able to bring these qualities and his immense experience to his new role.
Özcan will mainly be involved with in coaching the youth keepers up to the U15s. “It’s a very attractive challenge. I’m looking forward to passing on my knowledge and my experience to the young people. And that at a club which has grown close to my heart over the years,” declared Özcan, whose playing career will end after the current Europa League campaign.
In 17 years as a professional footballer, the man from Vorarlberg played 292 games in the first and second divisions in Germany and Austria and also won ten caps for Austria. Özcan played for Austria Lustenau, RB Salzburg, 1899 Hoffenheim, Besiktas, FC Ingolstadt and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
This fan meeting got off to a rather unexpected start. On Sunday afternoon, the Bayer 04 managing directors had just welcomed the fans present at the team hotel for the traditional get-together at the training camp when Fernando Carro’s phone rang. The CEO, glancing towards managing director sport Simon Rolfes with a smile, said: “We’ll just have to answer that quickly.” When asked by the fans what the call was actually about, the pair left it open with a wink. Instead, Carro and Rolfes then spent over an hour happily answering the fans’ many other questions.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-0 victory in the friendly match against Rot-Weiss Essen...
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