In 2024, Granit Xhaka with Bayer 04 celebrated winning the first German league title in the club's history as well as the DFB Pokal and the Supercup. The midfield maestro also impressed with Switzerland at Euro 2024 and again reached the quarter-finals as in the previous European Championship finals. The captain of the national side was voted Man of the Match in the first and third group matches and now has 135 international caps. Granit Xhaka was also the first Swiss player since 1996 to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or last year and he ended up in sixteenth place. Last week, the 32-year-old was voted MVP 2024, the most valuable player of the year, at the Swiss sport gala Sports Awards 2024.
Xhaka, connected online to the Swiss Football Night in Bern, said of his award: "It wasn't just my year. It was our year, with a great Euros. It was outstanding to win the trophies with the club but also celebrate the successes with the national team. I'd like to thank everybody once again. Above all, Murat Yakin (Switzerland head coach, ed.) who supported me both in training as well as privately.
Information on voting process in German is available HERE.
Six points from three games: The Bayer 04 Women have made a successful start to the Bundesliga season. As part of the first double fixture week in the new Bundesliga campaign, coach Roberto Pätzold's team face last season's third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium just four days after the hard-earned 1-0 win at FC Nürnberg. Last term’s two hard-fought games (2-2 and 2-3 from a Leverkusen perspective) also suggest an evenly balanced encounter on Thursday, 26 September (kick-off: 19:00 CEST/live on MagentaSport and DAZN).
Show moreThe Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 5. The game is on Saturday, 27 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Millerntor Stadion…
Show moreThe Werkself host Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 3 of the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The game at the BayArena will take place on Tuesday, 21 October, at 21:00 CEST. All you need to know on ticket sales for the clash with the current UCL winners.
Show moreFormer Werkself star Jorginho visited Leverkusen at the weekend accompanied by children from his social project 'Bola Pra Frente' in Rio de Janeiro. The 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil and his group were guests at Bayer 04's Bundesliga home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday and the first team training session on Monday. At the subsequent meet & greet with Werkself professional Arthur, a few tears of joy were shed by some of the beaming children. "I always feel very good when I come here, I really feel at home here," said the now 61-year-old Jorginho, beaming with joy and gratitude on his return to the BayArena.
Show more