Patrik Schick particularly impressed in the 2021/22 season with his efficiency and cool finishing in front of goal. With 24 goals in the Bundesliga, Schick scored the second highest number of goals for the Werkself in their 43 years in the Bundesliga – only club legend and first team coordinator Stefan Kießling is narrowly ahead. The Czech scored a goal in the league every 87 minutes on average. That overshadows the existing record held by 'Kies'.
In spite of setbacks through injury, which the Czech Republic international had to overcome this season, Schick is the Werkself Player of the Season for the supporters of the Black and Reds. Bayer 04 congratulate the Werkself number 14 who was able to win the hearts of the fans in his first year under the Bayer Cross.
The Prague-born player has made a clear statement both on and off the pitch. The early contract extension to the end of the 2027 season shows the commitment of the 26-year-old to the Werkself: "I feel really at home here but, above all, our team is very promising for the future. It's incredible fun with these lads and we are really keen to achieve something." That mentality promises more seasons of goals and success for the Werkself to experience together with the 2021/22 Player of the Season...
The second highest number of votes was clocked up by last year's winner: Youngster Florian Wirtz lost out in the race to be Werkself Player of the Season in spite of a great campaign. Pacy winger Moussa Diaby is in third place. The France international thrilled Bayer 04 supporters with his breathtaking attacking football that saw him contribute a combined total of 25 goals and assists in the Bundesliga last term.
The Player of the Season trophy will be presented at the season launch on 31 July by one member on behalf of the fan community.
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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