
Bernd 'Schnix' Schneider, Ulf 'the Schwatte' Kirsten and Co. will mingle with the fans from 09.30 CET. The two club legends are amongst the 40 players chosen as Bundesliga All Stars by Werkself supporters in an online vote. They have been invited to Leverkusen by the club on that weekend to celebrate promotion to the top flight in 1979.
The legends together with the promotion heroes of 1979 will provide a special addition to the Bundesliga game against Schalke on the Saturday and on Sunday they will be available to sign autographs, pose for selfies and talk to the fans. Some of them will also put their boots on again. There will be a Bundesliga All Stars game at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 10.00 CET with club legends on both sides.
Up to 15.00 CET fans can take a trip down memory lane with legends, look round the BayArena and enjoy the great range of events for young and old alike. Tickers (1 euro) for the 'Day of Tradition' are available now (www.bayer04.de, by phone on 0049 (0)214 5000 1904 or in person from the Bayer 04 shops).
The historic background: Bayer 04 Leverkusen finally achieved their target on 13 May 1979. A 3-3 draw against Bayer 05 Uerdingen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium secured promotion to Germany's top division for the team coached by Willibert Kremer. The Bundesliga 'adventure' started on 11 August 1979 with an away game at Bayern Munich. Bayer 04 have remained in the Bundesliga ever since – only the Werkself, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund can claim that.

In Germany, the temperatures are currently around zero, leaving even professional footballers freezing - but not the Bayer 04 Women. Roberto Pätzold's team have fled the cold to the south and are preparing for the second half of the season at a training camp in the Algarve, almost 2,000 kilometres away from home as the crow flies. The Leverkusen squad landed in Faro on Saturday morning and have already completed the first three training sessions over the weekend.
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It was a disappointing Saturday night. The Werkself lost 4-1 to VfB Stuttgart to start the new year on Bundesliga matchday 16 in 2025/26, a result that left both players and fans disappointed. "We played without any passion," said Alejandro Grimaldo honestly afterwards. Teammate Jarell Quansah was even more self-critical, emphasising: "We were miles off it in the first half. You can't put in a performance like that, especially in front of our own fans and I can only apologise to them, to be honest." Read on for the reaction, facts and stats from the clash with VfB Stuttgart in the Werkself review.
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Women’s team forward Paulina Bartz is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play for Hamburg SV until the end of the season. The 20-year-old, whose contract runs to 2027, joins the Bundesliga newcomers on loan until the summer.
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Jarell Quansah and Alejandro Grimaldo speak to Werkself-TV following Bayer 04's 4-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart on Bundesliga Matchday 16...
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