By taking this action, the Werkself are looking to draw attention to the long-standing commitment of the foundation. Deutsche Krebshilfe has been providing support for people suffering from cancer and their relatives since 1974. According to the motto of "Help. Research. Information." the organisation promotes projects for the improvement of prevention, screening, diagnosis, therapy, medical after-care and psychosocial care.
Matthias Adler, head of fans and sustainability: "The Deutsche Krebshilfe organisation with Bayer 04 advocate a healthy lifestyle as a preventative measure. This is happening as part of the project of Football Fans in Training. On the 50th anniversary, we want to raise additional awareness of Deutsche Krebshilfe with our profile in the cup competition on our sleeves."
Gerd Nettekoven, CEO of the Stiftung Deutsche Krebshilfe: "We are very happy that the German champions are showing commitment to the Deutsche Krebshilfe and making the sleeve on the team jerseys available free of charge for the Pokal game against Jena. The increased awareness for our important work in all areas in the fight against cancer is of very great value to us."
This is not a one-off event. Bayer 04 has been in partnership with the Deutsche Krebshilfe organisation for many years and is planning further joint actions with the foundation in this anniversary year: Bayer 04 will take part in a special campaign in professional sport in the autumn initiated by the foundation. In addition, together with the Deutsche Krebshilfe, Bayer 04 will be staging a ‘Football fans in training’ tournament 2024 on 12 October with participants from all over Germany.
At ‘Football fans in training’ overweight fans have the opportunity to lose kilos on free courses with professional support at Bayer 04 facilities and to look at their own diets in groups with like-minded people. The preventative project is now being carried out in 25 clubs in the three professional leagues in Germany together with the Deutsche Krebshilfe organisation.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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