"Hannes Wolf stabilised a deeply unsettled team under difficult conditions several weeks ago. The team were able to end a negative run of results under him and secure European qualification. Bayer 04 are very grateful to Hannes and his training staff for that achievement," declared sporting director Simon Rolfes.
"We want to challenge again next season with Gerardo Seoane. He has won the Swiss league title three times in succession with Young Boys and also won the cup in 2020 – and that with an attractive and attacking approach that is very close to our philosophy at Leverkusen," added Rolfes. "For a long time, we have defined ourselves by our attacking, dominant and technical style. And in the coming years, we want to develop that way of playing in tandem with Gerardo Seoane and achieve success."
Sporting managing director Rudi Völler assesses Hannes Wolf's work in the past two months as "effective and productive. We were on the rocks. Hannes and his coaching staff brought new life to the team. Our idea worked. Now he returns the DFB as agreed. But I'm convinced we'll see Hannes Wolf again at a professional club."
40-year-old Wolf emphasised his "appreciation for the confidence of Bayer 04 and above all the staff supporting the team from getting out of a very difficult situation to fight the target of European qualification. We achieved that target and the team deserves our respect for giving their all again in spite of significant injury problems," said Wolf. "Now I'm looking forward to returning to the DFB my work as the Germany U19 coach."
With the 42-year-old Gerardo Seoane, as Völler explains, "we have brought in a coach who has established Young Boys as the undisputed number one team in Switzerland over the past three years. It's impressive the way Bern have dominated the league there under his management. We are very much looking forward to working with Gerardo. He will be an asset to the Bundesliga."
For Seoane, who has dual Swiss and Spanish nationality and speaks six languages fluently, the job after three years at Young Boys Bern is a "step up to the next level. Of course, we Swiss always watch the Bundesliga. It's a top European league and Bayer 04 Leverkusen have consistently been at the top for many years," declared the 42-year-old, who brings Patrick Schnarwiler with him as assistant coach. "I find it extremely attractive to be able to coach this Bundesliga squad with such potential," said Seoane. “In the very professional and ambitious environment here on the Rhine, I see ideal conditions for playing attractive football and competing amongst the top teams in the league and in Europe. I'm really looking forward to this challenge."
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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In the final international break in the current 2025/26 campaign, Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick with Czechia will be battling for a place at the World Cup. Meanwhile, national teams that have already qualified, include other Werkself players called up, are involved in friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. Read on for an overview of the Leverkusen internationals and their match dates.
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The Werkself kicked off the final international break of the current season on Monday morning with the first of three open training sessions this week. While eleven Bayer 04 players will be away on international duty in the coming days, the other players will be working together in Leverkusen. The next challenge in the Bundesliga awaits on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg.
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