"With this step, we are looking to the future in women's football and taking a more structured and professional approach," explained Thomas Eichin, head of the Youth and Women sections. "With the new position of the sporting director we are filling the link between the youth teams and the Bundesliga squad and we want to increasingly promote young talent from our own ranks and take a longer term perspective of the squad. Achim Feifel, with his years of experience in youth and women's Football meets all the requirements for that. He's been at our club for three years, was regularly in touch with our junior teams as a Bundesliga head coach and he also has a very good network outside of the club."
Feifel has been head coach of the Werkself Women for three seasons. In his first campaign, the 57-year-old took his team to tenth place in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga following the promotion season and the team also progressed to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. The work of the football coach paid dividends the following year – the team achieved their best position in the league in the history of the club with a fifth-place finish. In the 2021/22 season, his side just missed out on getting to the cup final with defeat on penalties after extra time; and they finished seventh in the Bundesliga.
In his new role as sporting director, Feifel will be responsible for squad planning and development and scouting for the Bundesliga Women, the U23 Women's team plus the U17, U16 and U13 sides. "I'm very much looking forward to the new challenge and it is extremely important for our women's football section in my opinion. I will be taking on a future orientated area where we want to make structural developments in all areas to remain competitive. We want to discover young talent and develop our target of establishing a position in the top third of the Bundesliga table," said Feifel. He summed up his three years as head coach of the Bayer 04 Women's team: "I had an extremely positive time overall. I was incredibly well received at the club, felt supported at all times and always felt confidence in me. Working with the players and the whole team gave me a lot of pleasure."
Robert de Pauw (pictured above with Linda Schöttler) has been confirmed as Feifel's successor. The Dutch title-winning coach, who has signed for two seasons to 30 June 2024, won the top-flight in women's football in the Netherlands last term with FC Twente Enschede lifting the title in the Pure Energie Eredivisie Vrouwen. The 40-year-old was previously head coach of the Netherlands U17 Women's team as well as assistant coach to the female U23 and U16 national teams as well as the Achilles '29 Women's team (Eredivisie) and he also worked as Academy and Youth coach at NEC Nijmegen. De Pauw, who speaks English, German, French and Spanish in addition to Dutch, has a UEFA A licence.
"I'm very happy that we have found an ambitious and qualified coach in Robert de Pauw. He brings international experience with him from his previous jobs and he knows how to build and lead a young and hungry team," said Thomas Eichin about the qualified social worker. General manager Linda Schöttler added: "We are convinced we can continue the positive development of recent seasons and we look forward to a successful future."
For de Pauw, the post at Leverkusen is "a very attractive assignment. I'm very happy about the confidence shown in me and the opportunity to work at a top club with a young and ambitious team. It is a challenge I will approach with great motivation." De Pauw will begin his new role at the start of training on 4 July.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
Show more
On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
Show more
Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
Show more
Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
Show more
