In addition to the two managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler, the sporting director Simon Rolfes, the coaching and support staff, there are 27 players staying at the conference hotel owned by Bayer Gastronomie GmbH. The players are Lucas Alario, Nadiem Amiri, Charles Aránguiz, Ayman Azhil, Leon Bailey, Julian Baumgartlinger, Karim Bellarabi, Lars Bender, Sven Bender, Kerem Demirbay, Moussa Diaby, Aleksandar Dragovic, Kai Havertz, Lukas Hradecky, Niklas Lomb, Wendell, Ramazan Özcan, Exequiel Palacios, Paulinho, Daley Sinkgraven, Adrian Stanilewicz, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Mitchell Weiser, Fabian Rüth, Marcel Lotka and Florian Wirtz.
After arriving in Wermelskirchen, Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, explained the decision to use the hotel in Bergisches Land. “It was important to us for the players to have the chance to get away from the training ground – that’s why we decided against using the Lindner Hotel at the BayArena and for the Große Ledder. On top of that, our hygiene officer Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar looked at the hotel beforehand. We can meet all the hygiene and organisational requirements here,” said the 55-year-old.
With regard to the forthcoming intensity of the coming weeks, it is very important to have regular communication with the players. Fernando Carro: “We rarely have so many and long meetings with the team as we’re having at the moment. We’ve explained a lot to them and answered their questions. We all see it as a privilege to be able to carry on with the Bundesliga. Therefore, we are grateful for the confidence shown in us and we’ll do all we can to make sure playing the games is as safe as possible and that we fulfil all requirements.”
The Black and Reds will only leave their accommodation this week for the – continuing closed – sessions at the training ground at the BayArena. On Sunday, 17 May, Carro, Völler and Co. will head north. Bayer 04 are away to Werder Bremen at the Wohninvest Weserstadion in the final game of matchday 26 on Monday, 18 May, at 20.30 CET. That is followed by another away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach (22-24 May). The first home fixture at the BayArena is on 26 or 27 May when VfL Wolfsburg are the visitors.
With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
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The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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