Verena Hagedorn is the new head coach of Bayer 04 Women with immediate effect. The 34-year-old, previously assistant to Germany coach Steffi Jones, takes over from Malte Dresen who was caretaker coach following the departure of Thomas Obliers.
"I had a great time with the Germany women's team and I'm very grateful to have this opportunity now. I just want to spend more time on the pitch which isn't always possible with the national sides," said Hagedorn. "I'm very happy that the DFB and Steffi Jones have supported me as the job offer from Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a great challenge and the work there presents an exciting prospect."
For Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade the appointment of Verena Hagedorn represents an important step in the future development of the Leverkusen Women's Bundesliga team: "We are very happy and pleased that we have been able to attract such a renowned and innovative DFB coach for our team," said Schade. "Together with Malte Dresen, who I'd like to thank very much for acting as caretaker coach, Verena Hagedorn will now work all out to achieve our targets of the season."
The 34-year-old Hagedorn joined the DFB Women coaches, that also includes Markus Högner, under Steffi Jones in September 2016. "It's a pity we are losing Verena as she brought a lot to us. But we didn't want to stand in a way and I'm convinced she will do brilliantly in her work at Bayer 04 Leverkusen," said Germany coach Jones.
Hagedorn said her farewells to the Germany women's squad on Tuesday who are currently preparing for their international against Canada to be played on Sunday (from 15.00 CET live on ZDF) in Erfurt.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show moreTo all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show moreThe Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show moreIt is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show moreWelcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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