"In your five years in post, you have provided outstanding leadership to the club and achieved great success," said Wenning pointing out the four Champions League campaigns and the updated infrastructure at the BayArena completed under the guidance of Michael Schade, who will continue to have an input in the future with his role on shareholders' committee of Bayer 04 Fußball GmbH.
Over 100 long-term associates of the 65-year-old from the club, Bundesliga, business, culture and politics came together for the farewell event at the Premium Lounge. The guest list included Dr. Reinhard Rauball (president of the German Football League [DFL}), Werner Spinner (president of FC Köln), Peter Peters (director of Schalke 04), Wolfgang Bosbach (former CDU member of the Bundestag), Leverkusen's Mayor Uwe Richrath and Werner Baumann (chairman of the board at Bayer AG).
Fernando Carro, the new chairman of the board, Rudi Völler (managing director sport) and Jonas Boldt (sporting director) were accompanied by the Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich, captain Lars Bender, striker Kevin Volland plus club legends Ulf Kirsten, Simon Rolfes and Stefan Kießling. Also present: actor Jan-Gregor Kremp, musician Arthur Horvath, cabaret artist Wilfried Schmickler, who gave a witty and, as usual, pithy farewell speech in praise of Michael Schade, plus a host of sponsors, partners and journalists.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Hamburg tech start-up GIPEDO are revolutionising communication between clubs and their partners: Via a new partner portal, the GIPEDO workspace, animation advertising can in future be independently administrated by partners.
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On Saturday 22 March, lights at the BayArena will be switched off from 20:30 to 21:.30 CET. As in previous years, Bayer 04 are again joining in with the climate protection campaign ‘Earth Hour’.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without defender Shen Menglu for several months. The China international suffered a torn cruciate injury in last Sunday’s 6-0 home win against Werder Bremen.
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Central defender Emilie Bragstad is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen with immediate effect to join top-flight Swedish club Hammarby IF. The 23-year-old had a contract with the Werkself to the summer of 2026. The two clubs have agreed not to reveal details of the transfer.
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