It was a day full of emotion: At the final home game of the season against SC Freiburg it was time to say farewell to Rudi Völler after 28 years at Leverkusen. We documented his last official duties as sporting managing director using numerous photographs. There was one message at all times: Thank you, Rudi.
The face of Bayer 04 takes a step back as a member of the shareholders committee and as a club ambassador but his statements will continue to carry weight in the future. For example, he writes to the Black and Red family in the current edition of the Werkself Magazine: "You will all make a contribution to everything carrying on wonderfully at Bayer 04."
He probably also included Lukas Hradecky. Our captain talks in a big interview about his passion for small talk, the value of authenticity and the hope of silverware.
"Racing through Europe," is the title of the profile of our new signing Sardar Azmoun. Reading the Werkself Magazine is recommended for anybody who might want to know why our number nine did not become a volleyball player, where his passion for horses comes from and how he got to Leverkusen from Iran via Russia.
Further highlights in the final edition of 2021/22: Looking back at the Champions League final of 2002 with Werner Wenning and Dimitar Berbatov; assistant coach Alberto Encinas introduces his "04 best" on the touchline; we look back at the #Bayer04MexicoTour and review special moments in the season for the Bundesliga Women's team, the U19 and U17 sides plus the Veterans team.
On the bottom line is the production again of 104 informative and entertaining pages in partnership with the agency Derichs & Graalmann,which are designed to shorten the wait for the new season for the Bayer 04 family.
You can look these up and many other interesting insights into the world of the Werkself now in Werkself Magazine number 36. If you would like to receive the print edition then you can become a member. Click here for membership.
You can also look through all previous Werkself Magazines since the first edition in 2015/16 at bayer04.de.
Once again, well over 100 Werkself fans were delighted to receive an invitation from the club’s record appearance-maker, Rüdiger Vollborn, to the sold-out Schwadbud at the BayArena. This time, the supporters listened as the club historian provided fascinating, exclusive insights into the period from Bayer 04 being founded in 1904 to the club’s promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979. A journey through time is also planned for the upcoming ‘Rudi lädt ein’ event in early November – this time focusing on the years of the Nazi regime.
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Happy children’s faces at the SSV Lützenkirchen training ground: For the 25th time, the Birkenberg soccer school – organised by SportBund Leverkusen – offered participating youngsters an exciting holiday activity. Meeting a Bayer 04 player has now become a cherished tradition. This time, Ibrahim Maza visited the 150 children and spoke to them about his World Cup experiences, amongst other things. “It’s always lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm for football,” said the 20-year-old, after bringing a sparkle to many eyes with selfies and autographs.
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One day after the successful DFB Pokal first round tie at SV Wehen Wiesbaden (4–0), the mood was understandably really good: Over 400 Bayer 04 supporters gathered on Sunday, 23 August, for the annual fan club meet-up at the BayArena and got in the mood for the new season through direct and informal discussions with Bayer 04 management, head coach Carles Martínez and Werkself players.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-0 win at RB Leipzig on the 1st matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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