
"The contract extension with Bitburger is another indication we have confidence in long-term partnerships and we want to continue to develop this one together," said Markus Breglec, Bayer 04 chief marketing & innovation officer. We have worked with Bitburger since 2007 and they are the partner with the longest loyalty to us. So it's even better for us to achieve the extension both for the club and, of course, for the fans too."
As a partner in the Sponsors club, Bitburger has the right to sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of the Bitburger and Benediktiner brands at the BayArena as well as at all Bayer 04 events. The family brewery also has naming rights for the North Stand as well as the beer garden at the BayArena. Marco Boor, head of regional marketing and sponsorship at Bitburger, sees the extension as a sign of consistency and loyalty: "We are proud to have agreed the extension with Bayer 04. We have had an active partnership with the club and their fans for many years and we look forward to further years together under the Cross."
About Bitburger:
Bitburger is one of Germany's leading private breweries. The success of the traditional company has been based for over 200 years on the uncompromising desire for the highest quality and courage to introduce technological innovation. As a family company the seventh generation, Bitburger has also traditionally been involved in its home region. And Bitburger believes the careful use of natural resources and an effective contribution to environmental and climate protection are essential.

Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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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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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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