First, Benni Zander and Alex Schlüter welcomed the 38-year-old to the Podcast stage. As part of the ‘kicker meets DAZN’ podcast, Rolfes talked about his time as a TV pundit for the broadcaster ZDF. “It wasn’t at all easy to explain what’s happened in a game in 90 seconds.”
The Bayer 04 honorary captain had one lasting impression from the time he completed his Master for International Players (MIP), a two-year course offered by UEFA. In addition to Rolfes, other big names in football like Eric Abidal and Juninho have also earned that qualification. “It was a great networking opportunity. Sometimes it was a bit like a school trip – we quickly became a team and are still in contact with each other.” Other subjects on the podcast, that will be available from Monday on all the usual platforms, included the transfer strategy at Bayer 04 and also the level of communication between the new generation of sporting directors.
As well as Rolfes, this definitely includes Marcel Schäfer. The 35-year-old hung up his boots in 2018 and is now the sporting director at VfL Wolfsburg after ten years playing for the Wolves. Rolfes and Schäfer know each other well from their time of playing each other. They both took part in a DFB leadership trip to the USA in December. They met up again at SPOBIS – on the stage. Along with two other speakers, they talked about their relationship with players, agents and clubs.
The final day of SPOBIS 2020 on Thursday sees Black and Red representation on the stage again; this time it is Fernando Carro, the chairman of the board at Bayer 04. The 55-year-old will be joined on-stage by Axel Hellmann (member of the board at Eintracht Frankfurt), Oliver Leki (member of the board at SC Freiburg) and Bernd Hoffmann (chairman of the board at Hamburg SV). The subject covered by the quartet: ‘Bundesliga: What we have learned from our mistakes and now have to do better’.
Bayer 04 are away to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 5 of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off on Thursday 26 November at 18:45 CET at the Maksimir Stadium. All the information on ticket sales.
Show more
It wasn’t just on the pitch that there was cause for celebration around the Werkself’s 2–1 home win against SC Freiburg. Plenty of happy faces could be seen near the dugouts at half-time too. Once again, CEO Fernando Carro, alongside former striker and club ambassador Stefan Kießling, paid tribute to eight supporters’ clubs celebrating up to their 30th anniversary on behalf of Bayer 04.
Show more
It was a match that will live long in the memory of everyone involved: The Bayer 04 U19s celebrated their seventh win in seven matches in the DFB Youth League preliminary round – and yet it was a very special victory indeed: in the 4–3 (1–1) win at VfL Bochum 1848, no fewer than five goals came in the final quarter of an hour. As the 90th minute approached, coach Patrick Greveraars’s side found themselves behind, but then fought back in true ‘Laterkusen’ style.
Show more
Under Carles Martínez, the Werkself have so far proved unbeatable at the BayArena. The Spaniard has led his team to victory in all three of their most recent home matches – and, it's worth noting, without conceding a single goal. On Sunday, 18 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST / live on DAZN and Werkself Radio), current league leaders SC Freiburg will make the trip to Leverkusen, but will be without their top scorer. What's more, the Werkself have won all three of their previous home matches against the Black Forest club. With a goal, Patrik Schick could not only secure a fourth consecutive victory but also set a memorable record. Meanwhile, on what will be the ‘Health Day' at the BayArena, much of the focus will be on physical wellbeing. Today's matchday news.
Show more
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
Show more
