Bayer 04 have brought through the next Germany international in Florian Wirtz. The 5 feet 9 midfielder recently made his debut for Germany under new coach Hansi Flick who was appointed in August.
His predecessor Joachim Löw was the Germany coach for 15 years – and he used to regularly include Black and Reds in his line-ups. During the Löw era, a total of 17 Werkself players wore the Germany shirt – including members of the current Bayer 04 squad such as Jonathan Tah, Karim Bellarabi and Nadiem Amiri as well as former players like honorary captain Lars Bender, Toni Kroos and Gonzalo Castro.
Wirtz is the 34th Leverkusen player to make his debut for Germany. The history of Bayer 04 and the German national side goes back to the 1980s.
The first Bayer 04 player to appear for the senior Germany team was Herbert Waas. The centre-forward wore the Leverkusen shirt for eight years – between 1982 and 1990. The first full international came in June 1983 under the then Germany coach Jupp Derwall.
Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, Erich Ribbeck and Rudi Völler also selected Werkself players regularly over the course of the following years. Here is the list of Germany debutants who were at Bayer 04 when they played their first full international:
2021: Florian Wirtz
2019: Nadiem Amiri
2018: Kai Havertz, Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah, Julian Brandt
2016: Benjamin Henrichs
2014: Karim Bellarabi, Sidney Sam
2013: Philipp Wollscheid
2011: Lars Bender
2010: Toni Kroos, Stefan Reinartz
2008: René Adler
2007: Stefan Kießling, Gonzalo Castro, Simon Rolfes
2006: Manuel Friedrich
2003: Hanno Balitsch
2002: Thomas Brdaric
1999: Bernd Schneider
1998: Carsten Ramelow
1998: Paulo Rink, Stefan Beinlich
1997: Jens Nowotny
1992: Ulf Kirsten, Heiko Scholz, Christian Wörns
1990: Andreas Thom
1989: Alois Reinhardt
1988: Knut Reinhardt
1986: Thomas Hörster
1984: Christian Schreier
1983: Herbert Waas
The international break produced a full range of emotions for Bayer 04’s women. While four Leverkusen players were in play-off action to try and reach the World Cup, including two important goals, there were others in friendly action. Here’s a round-up of all the results…
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The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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Intercultural exchange: a youth team from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, visited Leverkusen in the last few days. The players and staff from AD DUHA FC enjoyed a varied programme including training, a friendly - and a very special experience on Saturday afternoon.
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There will be a change at the top of the Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH shareholder committee at the end of the year, with Werner Wenning stepping down from the Bundesliga club's control committee on 31 December 2026. Wolfgang Nickl, who has been part of the committee since March of this year, will take over the chairmanship on 1 January 2027.
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