Back
17.01.2023Bayer 04

Rudi Völler receives DFL honorary award

Award for Rudi Völler: The longstanding Bayer 04 director, now a member of the shareholders committee, received an honorary award from the German Football League (DFL) today, Tuesday 17 January.
crop_220117_NJE_2023_Watzke-Voeller_Querformat.jpg

At the traditional DFL New Year’s reception, Hans-Joachim Watzke presented the 1990 World Cup winner with the award in front of over 400 guests in Offenbach – the city where Rudi Völler took his first steps in professional football in the middle of the 1970s.

crop_220117_NJE_2023_Hellmann_Carro_Witters.jpg

“Of course, I’m very happy about the award, I grew up ten minutes away from here,” said Völler at the DFL New Year’s reception in Offenbach, where the Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes were also in attendance.

Illustrious group: 15 DFL honorary award winners

The award for the 62-year-old Völler was announced at the DFL general meeting in August of last year. The former Leverkusen director was unable to take part in the event back then for personnel reasons and now he has received the honour in person.

Through their honorary award the DFL (German Football League) recognises the great achievements of personalities in German professional football based on the decisions of their management committee. A total of 15 people are DFL honorary award winners to date.

Photos: DFL/Witters

Related News

Ibrahim Maza beim Ballon d‘Or 2026
Bayer 04 - 26.10.2026

Maza nominated for Men's Young Talent of the Year at the Ballon d‘Or 2026 ✨

Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.

Show more
Moussa Diaby und Loïc Badé
Bayer 04 - 26.10.2026

Diaby and Badé sidelined

Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.

Show more
Die U19 von Bayer 04 im UHS
U19 - 26.10.2026

U19s face Marseille youth team in friendly on UEL matchday

The Bayer 04 U19s are set to host Marseille in a top-level friendly. The match against the French side is at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Thursday, 5 November, at 14:00 CET. Admission is free for fans. A few hours later, the two clubs face each other in the Europa League at the BayArena.

Show more
Edmond Tapsoba, Jonas Hofmann und Co. nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 26.10.2026

Werkself review: ‘It wasn’t our best day’

It has been a long time since feeling what it’s like to come away empty-handed. The last – and so far only – defeat of the season, in Elversberg, was two months ago. Since then, Bayer 04 have followed that up with seven wins and a draw. Now it has happened again away to TSG Hoffenheim. As the match progressed, the Werkself grew in confidence and “could even have scored the opening goal”, as Robert Andrich said after the game. In the end, it was the side from Sinsheim who sealed a 3–0 victory after “hectic closing stages” (kicker). The Werkself review.

Show more
Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg | 8th matchday
Werkself-TV - 25.10.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.

Show more