The most important thing from a sporting perspective first: Bayer 04 will again be in Europe in the 2021/22 season - in the Europa League. Following the point earned against the team from the capital and the defeat for Borussia Mönchengladbach (1-2 against Stuttgart), the Werkself are certain of finishing sixth.
The Frankfurter Rundschau headline reads: “Wirtz puts Leverkusen in the Europa League.” The words “shooting star” and “exceptional talent” follow. The opening goal by the striker on 27 minutes is described as follows: “It was also a matter of centimetres but the 18-year-old was just onside at the far post for Wendell’s shot. No other player has scored his sixth goal in the Bundesliga at a younger age.”
The Bild Zeitung also refers to the Wirtz, who recently agreed a contract extension to 2026 at Bayer 04. The headline of their report: “Wirtz now set for the Euros?” And further: “Jogi Löw names his Euros squad on Wednesday. The young international […] can reasonably hope.”
The Rheinische Post refers to the departure of Lars and Sven Bender: “There was a trip to the past before the kick-off in the last home game of the season. Lars and Sven Bender had a quiet send-off. Instead of tumultuous celebrations, chants, choreography and possible tears of emotion, there were a few kind words for the twin brothers, applause from the first team staff and a handshake from the club bosses. […] The pandemic forced the accolade for the two 32-year-olds onto the Internet. With countless comments and tweets, Bayer supporters paid tribute to the Benders’ lifetime achievements.”
In their category of “Moments of the match”, the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports as follows: “In his final home game as a professional footballer, Sven came on for two minutes. The 32-year-old, handicapped by a foot injury, was not able to clench his teeth but instead put the wellbeing of the team to the fore just before the end of his playing career as he took the decision on a longer appearance away from the coach Hannes Wolf in a pre-match conversation. Wolf left the question unanswered of whether Bender could start in his final game.”
The opponents on Saturday, 22 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST) on the final matchday of the 2020/21 season are Borussia Dortmund – Sven Bender’s former club where he played for eight years before his move to Bayer 04.
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...
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