
Bereits seit 1997, als die BayArena noch Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion hieß, wird sowohl im Zuschauer- als auch im Business-Bereich der Spielstätte Gaffel ausgeschenkt. Auch in der Schwadbud sowie bei sämtlichen Events von Bayer 04 gibt es das Kölsch des Sponsorenclub-Partners.
"The partnership with Bayer 04 stands for reliability and is marked by professionalism," declared Thomas Deloy, marketing and PR director at Gaffel. "We are looking forward to attractive football in the Bundesliga and the Europa League."
And Dr. Bernd Schröder, marketing and sales director at Bayer 04, is also happy about the continuation of the partnership: "A quarter of a century demonstrates an impressive affinity and confident cooperation. The contract extension is a good sign of a flourishing partnership."
Gaffel profile:
Gaffel is the most popular Kölsch brand in catering and is also one of the most innovative breweries. Their non-alcoholic Fassbrause launched a boom in that sector. In 2020, Gaffel introduced 'Wiess', the forefather of Kölsch to the market and that has proved to be very popular and not just with Kölsch fans. The family company has been an exclusive Kölsch partner for Bayer 04 since 1997. The Gaffel am Dom is one of the most popular brewery pubs there is. Gaffel is also the initiator of the 'Jeck im Sunnesching', the biggest summer spectacular of Cologne music in the Rhineland.

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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