18 May 1988 – that special date has not lost any of its charisma for Bayer 04 fans: The date of the UEFA Cup win. Many older Werkself fans can name the route to the title standing on their heads: Austria Vienna, FC Toulouse, Werder Bremen and Espanol in the two-leg final that was decided on penalties on 18 May 1998.
In 2013, on the 25th anniversary, the UEFA Cup winners came together for a reunion in Leverkusen (pictured above). Now, five years later on the 30th anniversary, a majority of the heroes from back then returned to the scene of their triumph to celebrate with Bayer 04 fans. On Friday 18 May, there will be an evening shared with the supporters at the BayArena – either in the 1904 Lounge in the West Wing of the stadium or in the Schwadbud in the East Stand.
Rüdiger Vollborn, one of the Bayer 04 fan liaison team and a proud cup winner organise the meeting in tandem with Dirk Dreher, the manager of the Veterans team. there has been a great response from the '88 winners: Former players Marcus Feinbier, Florian Hinterberger, Christian Schreier, Falko Götz, Christian Hausmann, Andrzej Buncol, Wolfgang Rolff, Erich Seckler, Knut Reinhardt and Bernd Dreher have all confirmed they will attend, plus assistant coach Gerd Kentschke and the then general manager Michael Meier. It remains to be seen if Pierre De Keyser and Minas Hantzidis will be at the event.
The reunion on 18 May starts at the apt time of 19.04 CET. And the protagonists of 1988 will definitely have lots of stories to tell on the podium. "We'll watch highlights of all the games with the fans and then talk about it. I'm already really excited to hear the lads' memories," said Rüdiger Vollborn. "The whole thing should be it relaxed as was the case two years ago with the 1996 relegation showdown against Kaiserslautern when Markus Münch, Dirk Heinen, Rudi Völler, Peter Hermann and Markus Happe betrayed their secrets in the Schwadbud." Bayer 04 stadium announcer Tobias Ufer will compere the event from the stage.
Tickets for the supporter meeting with the UEFA Cup heroes are available for five euros, including a free drink. They are available every day from the Fan House at Breidenbachstraße 46 and also from the Stadioneck and the Fan Container at the final Bayer 04 home game of the season.
The evening on 18 May is not the only events this year where winners from the past meet up again. "In September or October we have another big meeting planned where both the 1988 UEFA Cup winners and the DFB Cup winners of 1993 will be in attendance. Tita and Bum-kun Cha, who could not be here this time, will be there," said Rüdiger Vollborn. A supporters meeting is also planned for the 25th anniversary of winning the DFB Cup on 12 June. Bayer 04 will definitely not run out of reasons to celebrate this year.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
Show more
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
Show more
On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
