What’s the latest news ahead of the home game against Mainz? What have the coaches said? And what’s new with the other Bayer 04 teams? The BayArena Aktuell match magazine (in German) is now online for the all the key information on the clash with Mainz 05.
Click HERE for the online edition.
Benjamin Cortus is in charge of today’s match at the BayArena. The Nuremberg-born referee has officiated in Germany’s top flight since 2016. Today’s game is his fourth involving the Black and Reds - the Werkself have won three and drawn one. His assistants are Florian Heft and Thomas Gorniak, the fourth official is Sven Waschitzki.
The secret has been out for a few hours now, Werkself fans finally know what the new home kit for next season looks like. “All in black” is the motto. Before Kai Havertz and Co. run out in their new kit today, you can get hold of the shirt from the online shop. Further information on the new kit is available HERE.
Ahead of the meeting with Mainz, Bayer 04 are again broadcasting ‘Spieltag – Die Show’. Joining in this time are André Ramalho (RB Salzburg) and Dario Kresic, who ended his playing career in the summer of 2017. The two guests are ideal candidates to analyse this match: The duo played for the Werkself and Mainz in the past – they were both in the Leverkusen squad in 2015/16. The broadcast starts at 15.00 CET and the show will be presented live by Mara on the Bayer 04 YouTube channel.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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