Werkself "Coming Home“ live blog

+++19:38 CEST: Happy. End. +++

It's over - and what a day it was! The celebration in the BayArena was without doubt a fitting finale. What they put together there was so emotional and quite simply impressive. While the Werkself left the stage at around 6 o'clock and celebrated ecstatically one last time as they left for their well-earned summer break, some fans spent a little over an hour on the pitch. In the meantime, however, the last fans have left the stadium, the players have also just been driven out of the underground car park to the enthusiastic cheers of the last few fans. This historic season has now come to an end. Enjoy the break, enjoy the Bundesliga title, enjoy the DFB Pokal triumph. The dream has come true.

+++17:38 CEST: Active fan scene on the stage +++

The rain is now teeming down, but none of the players on stage really care that they're all soaking wet. The team and the fans, who are now moving more and more from the stands into the centre of the stadium, now sing together: "Deutscher Double-Sieger" [German double winners]. And now the active fan scene have the mic! And they begin by thanking the "men and women who wanted to found this club 120 years ago". They continue: "About 20 months ago, in difficult times, we wrote an open letter to the team, the coaching staff, the management and the fans. And what has happened since then is simply incredible. We'll never forget you for these titles and will always carry them through this city!"

The active fan scene end by thanking Andreas "Paffi" Paffrath, the fan representative who is leaving his post in the summer after decades of commitment to Bayer 04. Of course, we all join them in doing so!

+++17:15 CEST: History has been made!+++

Even the rain that starts to fall over the BayArena can’t dampen the mood on and off the stage. The fans continue to celebrate each player in turn, all of whom hoist the Meisterschale and the DFB Pokal into the air.

Piero Hincapie then grabs the microphone and fires up the crowd with fan chants, before double coach Xabi Alonso is the last to present the Schale and Pokal to the fans. It's true, fans, it's really true!

+++17:01 CEST: The moment we've all been waiting for+++

Onto the stage they go! To thunderous applause from the 40,000 fans on the pitch and in the stands, the team take to the stage in the centre circle - led by Lukas Hradecky with the Meisterschale and Jonathan Tah with the DFB Pokal in their hands. Now every player in the squad is cheered individually, and quite rightly so! Stadium announcer Tobi Ufer can just about finish pronouncing the christian names through his microphone, as the 40,000 cheering fans immediately echo the surnames of our double heroes!

+++16:58 CEST: They’ve arrived!+++

The trucks have made their way through the crowds and into the underground car park under the south stand. Party king Frimpong, however, never knows when to stop, because after all his team-mates had already disappeared inside, he joined in another chant with the staff truck opposite. This guy is on fire!

+++16:53 CEST: Not much longer+++

Peter Lorenz is now belting out the Bayer 04 anthem. The fans hold up their scarves and sing for all they're worth. It's spine-tingling. The team are about to arrive.

+++16:37 CEST: "La La La La La"

No matter where, we’ve rarely seen such an atmosphere. Whether on the parade, in the BayArena, outside on Bismarckstraße or under the Stelzenbrücke. It's unbelievable.

In the BayArena, the German band ATC (A Touch of Class) are getting the crowd clapping, singing and rocking with their global hit "Around the World (La La La La La)" - the Werkself's goal anthem from the current championship season!

It's no less spine-tingling at the parade, where our anthem "Leverkuuuuuusen" is blasting out. Thousands of people cheer on the trucks. I think there's something in my eye...

+++16:33 CEST: In the thick of it instead of just being there+++

It's getting really cramped here now. There's hardly any space between people and trucks. People are looking for every possible vantage point to get the best view - whether on bus stops or on top of signposts.

+++16:27 CEST: A city in a frenzy+++

Home straight! We move onto Xabi Alonso All... ahem, Bismarckstraße! It gets even more crowded on the street, people are setting off rockets, the bass on the buses is turned up again - and of course the goal anthem can't be left out. Simply an awesome atmosphere! And we can see that even Simon Rolfes can't keep his feet still, with the sporting managing director showing off his skills with various dance routines.

Speaking of which: There's also plenty of dancing going on inside the BayArena, where the Hermes House Band are performing party versions of "Country Roads", "I Will Survive" and "Que Sera, Sera", among other songs.

+++16:23 CEST: Inching forward...+++

Just a few more metres and then we turn onto Bismarckstraße. A mass of people in front of us. But no-one is slowing down here: the South Americans and Africans start dancing and a normally reserved Arthur takes over on the microphone!

+++16:15 CEST: No let-up+++

We jump back to the parade, where "Völlig losgelöst", "Sweet Caroline" and Scooter are playing here - residents are even watching the party parade from their balconies in the tower blocks. Carro is a bit emotional on the truck: "This is a unique experience. To see so many happy people here is a dream come true for all of us. The city has come to a standstill, you can't prepare for something like this. It's overwhelming."

The trucks are now going through the railway underpass on Gustav-Heinemann-Straße, where there are also lots of people on the bridge, waving. The trucks just about fit through here, you can actually touch the roof!

+++16:01 CEST: The place is on fire+++

While the Werkself are celebrating on their way to the BayArena, the party continues in the stadium. On stage right now: the band Culcha Candela, who are blasting out some great tunes and getting the crowd going. One of the songs was "Berlin City Girl" - one line was of course changed and dedicated to the Farbenstadt, and so the thousands of fans in the BayArena sang "Leverkusen City Girls". And the other hits, such as "Hamma", also created a "Monsta" atmosphere.

+++ 15:34 CEST: The parade is underway! +++

What an atmosphere on Gustav-Heinemann-Straße! The roadsides are full of fans, the bass echoes from the two trucks, which have long since been transformed into party buses! Jonas Hofmann takes a well-earned sip from the XXL glass.

+++ 15:13 CEST: Entry into the Golden Book +++

The Bayer 04 entourage has arrived at Morsbroich Palace. And how! The closer the bus got to the castle, the more fans gathered at the roadside and cheered loudly for the team! The backdrop is breathtaking. After this impressive reception, the team went straight inside.

In the splendid hall, the first to sign the golden book of the city of Leverkusen are Werner Wenning, Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes. Then it’s the turn of Xabi Alonso and captain Lukas Hradecky, followed by all the other players and team staff. Uwe Richrath, Lord Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, shakes hands with each of them individually. Numerous camera teams capture every moment. All the participants are beaming with pride; it’s a moving moment.

While all the official business is taking place inside, outside the castle everything is being prepared for the parade. The two stylish trucks decked out with Bayer 04 branding are ready, the XXL beer glasses of Früh Kölsch and Bitburger are filled to the brim and a few pallets of Monster Energy are also loaded onto the trucks - it's almost time to go!

+++ 14:57 CEST: Anticipation growing in and around the BayArena +++

The atmosphere in the stadium is still outstanding. Gradually, more and more people are trickling into the BayArena. The stands are already well filled, and the area on the pitch in front of the stage is also resplendent in black and red. The first acts of the day have just started: among others, the Leverkusen musician Einmalique performed his song "Meisterkusen". Meanwhile, the band Department of Rock sang the Queen classic "We are the Champions", with fans embracing each other and singing along loudly. The high-spirited fans under the Stelzenbrücke have also been watching the performances. There, they can follow both the events involving the team and the programme from the BayArena on large screens. In this way, everyone can enjoy all the action.

+++ 14:24 CEST: On their way to the castle! +++

The Werkself are now on the team bus on their way to Morsbroich Castle to sign the city of Leverkusen's Golden Book. The first Bayer 04 fans were already waiting at the airport exit and on the hard shoulder of the Autobahn to cheer on the team bus. During the journey, too, countless cars overtook the team bus, fans held scarves and flags out of the windows and greeted the team by honking their horns! The euphoria you can feel everywhere here is simply amazing!

And the atmosphere at the BayArena, where numerous fans have already gathered to follow all the events at the airport via the large video screens on the stage in the centre of the stadium, is also excellent! Just incredible!

+++14:04 CEST: Touchdown!

What a reception at Cologne/Bonn Airport! As the team's charter flight touches down, a water cannon stands ready as a welcoming committee. After parking the plane, the pilot hangs a Werkself fan t-shirt out of his cockpit window and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Hendrik Wüst stands ready to greet the double winners on the front steps. And here they come with the precious cargo: Captain Lukas Hradecky is the first to step out with the DFB Pokal and Jonathan Tah with the Meisterschale, followed by the other Werkself players. Each of them is personally congratulated by Wüst with a handshake - what an honour! Despite the fact that some of them are still wearing sunglasses, there's no shortage of selfies with the airport staff.

+++12:27 CEST: Heading home!+++

The sun is beaming down as the squad board the special team flight, just like the smiles on the  players' faces, and of course, they're all wearing the black and red "Double" t-shirt. On the plane, their families and friends give them a well-deserved round of applause for winning their second trophy of the season, and the captain also has a few words for the Werkself: "Congratulations on winning the DFB Pokal. This team is truly phenomenal!"

We'll be in the air in a few minutes and will update you when we land. Till then!

+++ 9:04 CEST: The Werkself's schedule for today +++

Good morning, you double winners! We hope you celebrated the DFB Pokal win and the end of this historic season with as much enthusiasm as the team - we're happy to put up with a short night! The Bayer 04 squad are heading straight to Berlin Brandenburg Airport, from where the team plane will take off at around 12.30 CEST.

After landing, the Werkself will head straight to Morsbroich Palace, where they'll sign the city of Leverkusen's Golden Book. The team will then make their way in a procession along Gustav-Heinemann-Straße and Bismarckstraße to the BayArena, where the "Coming Home" will come to a grand finale. Naturally, we'll keep you updated throughout the day - you won't miss a thing!