Bayer 04 Football School becomes Bayer 04 Football Academy

The aim of the rebranding is to create a consistent, modern brand identity, both nationally and internationally, with a focus on a young target audience.

represented at home and abroad

To achieve these goals, all locations will in future be brought together under one umbrella. In addition to its tried-and-tested programmes in Leverkusen and the surrounding region, Bayer 04 also run Bayer 04 Football Academies abroad – for example, in the key target market of Brazil. Under the guidance of former player and club legend Paulo Sérgio, over 100 children are regularly trained by qualified youth coaches. All coaches are carefully selected and receive comprehensive training in Leverkusen beforehand, ensuring a consistent playing philosophy and training methodology.

The Academy’s aim is to provide a football environment that fosters the children’s personal and sporting development, whilst at the same time further raising Bayer 04’s profile in Brazil. The academies abroad are a key component of the club’s internationalisation strategy. Plans are in place not only for the ongoing expansion of the Academy, located on the Bayer AG site in São Paulo, but also for the prospective opening of further academies in Brazil.

In addition, the Leverkusen already have a Bayer 04 Football Academy in Guangzhou, China, where – also under the guidance of qualified coaches – around 60 children currently receive regular football training.

comprehensive offer for children

In Germany, Bayer 04 have provided football camps for children and young people for around 20 years. The Bayer 04 Football Academy, powered by BarmeniaGothaer, continues to be coordinated by former player Thorsten Judt. It offers holiday camps, day and weekend camps, as well as special day programmes on the first team home matchdays. The academy also has a presence at clubs in the surrounding area. Educational workshops are also part of the programme. The children are supervised round the clock by qualified football coaches, both on and off the pitch.

With the rebranding as the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the club is consolidating its global activities in youth development. With immediate effect, all national and international football schools, training camps and overseas academies will operate under a strong, unified brand umbrella. This step not only guarantees global consistency and high brand recognition, but also underlines Bayer 04’s global ambition to support football-mad children across national borders according to a unified philosophy.

Further information on the Bayer 04 Football Academy is available HERE.