The award and the associated prize money are aimed at particularly committed clubs from the Middle Rhine (FVM) and Lower Rhine (FVN) Football Associations. Since 2007, Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH has awarded the Volunteering Award, which has already provided 60 clubs with financial support totalling more than €250,000. Last year, FC Germania Zündorf 1913 e.V. and ASC Loope e.V. 1954 from the Football Association of the Middle Rhine and Hastener Turnverein 1871 e.V. from the Lower Rhine Football Association were honoured for their outstanding commitment. This year, 54 clubs from the two associations applied for the award.
This year's award was presented on Saturday, 13 December, during the Bundesliga home game against FC Köln at the BayArena. In addition to Fernando Carro (Bayer 04 CEO), Peter Frymuth (President FVN), Markus Müller (Vice President FVM) and Marc Adomat (City Director of Leverkusen) also honoured the exceptional commitment of the award winners. The advisory board, consisting of Carro, Frymuth, Christos Katzidis (President FVM) and Adomat, had previously selected the winners.
The entire matchday was dedicated to the DFB "Thank you for volunteering" campaign. In addition to a large banner and associated activities on the topic, SV Bergfried Leverkusen and HSV Langenfeld 1959 were drawn by lot from among all the applicants and each provided 15 protagonists for the pre-match tifo - a unique experience.
Carro: "Amateur football as a whole is only possible thanks to the commitment of volunteers. They are also the pillars of professional football - there is no football without volunteers. With this award, we not only want to give the recipients the recognition they deserve, but also encourage other people to get involved in similarly great projects in grassroots sport."
The 2025 winners:
TuS Roland Bürrig 1887 e.V. founded the sustainability committee "Your village. Your club. Your future." based on the club motto "Your club. Your village. One feeling.". In addition to the basic principles of a sports club, the promotion of community and health, the environmental concept and the topic of sustainability are also increasingly coming into focus. This is demonstrated, for example, by measures that can be implemented quickly, but also in larger projects and serve as a good complement to schools in putting theory into practice in everyday life.
SV Oppum 1910 e.V. applied with the project "Inclusive Football and Participation Campaign". The core of the programme comprises free, barrier-free summer camps for all ages and regular training for refugees under the motto "Playing together - living democracy". An internal club contribution model also enables socially disadvantaged participants to become members free of charge or at a reduced rate. Another version of the ‘Nations Cup’, where refugees play against each other, is set to be held next year.
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
In the final international break in the current 2025/26 campaign, Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick with Czechia will be battling for a place at the World Cup. Meanwhile, national teams that have already qualified, include other Werkself players called up, are involved in friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. Read on for an overview of the Leverkusen internationals and their match dates.
Show more
The Werkself kicked off the final international break of the current season on Monday morning with the first of three open training sessions this week. While eleven Bayer 04 players will be away on international duty in the coming days, the other players will be working together in Leverkusen. The next challenge in the Bundesliga awaits on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg.
Show more
