The 'Wir(04)helfen' day gives the club the opportunity to give something back to Leverkusen. For a fourth time, Bayer 04 spent a day working at a community facility. After previous years getting the playground in Rheindorf, a road traffic practice circuit and a day nursery in Opladen plus a children's home in Quettingen ship shape again, this time renovation work at the Reuschenberg wildlife park was on the agenda. The 60,000 square metre area houses over 80 different types of wild and domestic animals – over 200 animals can be seen at the extensive facility. The park was closed on Wednesday for redevelopment and modification.
The squad reduced by international commitments including Leon Bailey, Karim Bellarabi and the Bender twins worked alongside Bayer 04 staff at the wildlife park to install new bike stands, repair benches and repaint tables and walls. On top of that, the gutters at the entrance were cleaned out to prevent flooding. The otters in the park could enjoy their newly redesigned enclosure – another was set up for three new Bennett kangaroos. The young animals have not been named yet. Lion Club members are welcome to get involved in naming the animals by sending in their suggestions (information to follow in the Lions Club newspaper).
After the job was completed, all involved were happy with the results – with the wildlife park shining like new. Heiko Herrlich was also enthusiastic: "It felt a bit like one of our team building sessions and it produced a team spirit – with the feeling of having achieved something together,"said the 46-year-old. "We've all been to the wildlife park as a child or as an adult. It's very beautiful here – including the playground. I'm sure to come back here with my children."
The Bayer 04 players were put through their paces at the Werkstatt – the club’s rehabilitation and training centre – on Sunday as they completed the first and main part of this year’s performance diagnostics. New signings Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Axel Tape, as well as players returning from their holidays, all did the customary medical and athletic tests.
Show moreThe team departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 from July 14-24. The preseason journey marks a change from recent training camps in the Austrian Alps and Black Forest and we caught up with CEO Fernando Carro to ask him about this summer's visit to Brazil.
Show moreMalik Tillman and the USA could not quite achieve the hoped-for big win in their own country. Last Monday’s final in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston ended up in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts against Mexico. But the Bayer 04 new signing can be very happy with the course of the tournament and his own performances. Tillman was in the starting line-up for all six games. That concluded an impressive season for him after winning the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Bayer04.de profiles the 23-year-old new signing.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the USA international Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Werkself from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Tillman, with German roots and born in Nuremberg, has a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030. He scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 34 games for PSV last season. Three of those goals and two assists were in six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
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