After being voted Newcomer of the Season by his fellow Bundesliga professionals, Leon Bailey came out on top of a poll in the 11FREUNDE magazine in this category with 63 points, clearly ahead of Hoffenheim's Dennis Geiger (27 points) and Jean-Kévin Augustin (RB Leipzig, 26 points). Last year, Bayer 04 homegrown player Kai Havertz was runner-up to former Borussia Dortmund youngster Ousmane Dembélé.
Award presentation in Cologne
The panel, including Germany coach Jogi Löw, presenter Jessica Kastrop and former Bayer 04 player Stefan Reinartz, explained the reasoning for the vote with the following statement: "Leon Bailey is never put off wherever he is as he feels at home on the football pitch. He combines the pace of a Usain Bolt with good technique. Above all, Bailey is again and again brave in one-on-ones like almost nobody else in the Bundesliga.“
Leon Bailey will be joined at the awards night on 10 August at the Flora in Cologne by Naldo of FC Schalke 04 (Player of the Season), Dr. Felix Brych (Referee of the Season), Jupp Heynckes of Bayern Munich (Coach of the Season), FC Köln's Jonas Hector (Character of the Season) and Fredi Bobic of Eintracht Frankfurt (General Manager of the Season).
Time to say goodbye! Matchday 22 against SV Werder Bremen marks not only the end of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga season for Bayer 04 Women but also, for their coach and a number of players, their time under the Cross. Moreover, the home match on Monday 20 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST) has plenty of sporting significance too.
Show moreIt’s going to be a historic day in Leverkusen as Bayer 04 receive the Bundesliga Meisterschale for the first time ever following the conclusion of the Matchday 34 encounter with Augsburg. The game this Saturday will be played in front of a sold-out BayArena, which will also see an emotional commemoration, a live performance and a drone show. Here’s all you need to know in our matchday news.
Show moreIt will be a historic and very special moment in front of a full house at the BayArena when the Werkself are presented with the first Meisterschale in the club’s history after the final whistle on the last Bundesliga matchday of the season against FC Augsburg. The fixture is on Saturday, 18 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST/live on Sky and on Werkself Radio). Ahead of the clash with tenth-placed FCA, head coach Xabi Alonso talked about the trophy presentation as well as the possibility of being the first team to go a whole season unbeaten in the Bundesliga.
Show moreA historic Bundesliga season for the Werkself ends with the presentation of the Meisterschale at Saturday’s home game against FC Augsburg. Bayer 04 are the new champions of Germany – for the first time in the club’s history. For this reason, there will be a special publication on the final Matchday. 88 pages will hail the achievements of the protagonists and includes emotional highlights from Werkself Radio. In addition, the photo-packed magazine will also include record stats, media assessment and congratulations from the world of football plus a report from 14 April when Bayer 04 were crowned champions with games to play thanks to a 5-0 win against Werder Bremen.
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