Born in Madrid, Mario Hermoso joined the youth set-up at Real Madrid at the age of ten. He progressed through all the junior teams at the record Champions League winners and in 2015 he played for the reserve team Real Madrid Castilla. That was followed by a 12-month loan to second division Real Valladolid where he made his professional debut. In the following season in 2016/17, Hermoso regularly played for the Real Madrid reserve team before his long stay at Real Madrid drew to a close at the end of the season – for a good sporting reason.
In the summer of 2017, Hermoso moved up to the Primera Division, the forerunner of today's La Liga. He played for Espanyol and made his top-flight debut on 9 September 2017 in the derby against Barcelona. Hermoso quickly established himself in Spain's top division with 54 league appearances in two seasons – and he earned the first of a total of five international caps with Spain in that time.
Hermoso's performances at Espanyol and for Spain attracted the attention of Atletico Madrid who brought him back to the capital in the summer of 2019. The 1.84 metre tall left footer spent five successful years at the Rojiblancos, winning the Spanish league title with them in 2021 and clocking up 29 games in the Champions League.
Hermoso faced the Werkself four times in his time at Atletico. The record from the Champions League group stage encounters in 2019/20 and 22/23: one win, one draw, two defeats. Hermoso was in the starting line-up in all four matches.
Moreover: To date he has not played more games against any other foreign club then he has against his new club, the German double winners from Leverkusen…
Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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Exciting exhibitions, stimulating talk, and a great response: as part of the 22nd Leverkusen Kunstnacht (Art Night), Bismarckstraße also became an art promenade on Friday evening. Stadioneck and Schwadbud made their debut at the traditional event, whilst the Lev-Szene 86 clubhouse on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz was taking part for the third time. In Schlebusch, too, there was art on display with links to Bayer 04. Football wasn’t always the main focus, however.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 3-2 win against Werder Bremen on Matchday 6 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
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