It's child's play: Every tweet using the hashtag #nextLEVel will automatically appear at Leverkusen. The best and most emotional will go straight onto the screens at the BayArena. One special factor: The whole thing is not limited by time or place. All Bayer 04 fans, whether at the stadium, in Germany or across the world can show their support for the Werkself from now using the hashtag #nextLEVel. And it could very well provide a decisive extra percent of motivation for Kevin Kampl, Stefan Kießling and Co.: It's worth joining in! For the Werkself! For the quarter-finals!
The campaign started on Sunday with an emotional video where Kevin Kampl, Stefan Kießling, Karim Bellarabi and Danny Da Costa join together to ask all Werkself fans for their active support. In the words of the team: "It was close last time. It's our competition! We want your support at home! Together against Atlético!" – So don't hesitate to support the Werkself in the most important home game of the season to date against Atlético Madrid with tweets using the hashtag #nextLEVel.
Bayer 04 ran a similar campaign to bid farewell to Bayer 04 honorary captain Simon Rolfes. In his last match in a Leverkusen shirt, the Werkself legend Rolfes was the subject of numerous tweets using the hashtag#DankeSimon on the screens at the BayArena. Now it’s time now for a new one. It's down to the fans and the team to do all they can to get past Atlético and into the quarter-finals. Take the next step: #nextLEVel.
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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