Bayer 04, together with the club's partners, have supported Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Around 1,500 people who fled to Leverkusen have made their home here. "The colleagues at the community foundation are very grateful the comprehensive support from Bayer 04," said Meinolf Sprink, director of fans/community at the Werkself. "As Bayer 04, we want to provide support in our home city where help is needed most urgently."
The money raised from the sale of the strictly limited edition special shirts is being made available to the Leverkusen community foundation. In cooperation with the City of Leverkusen there will be a fair distribution to regionally active institutions supporting Ukraine refugees.
The proceeds from the joint derby shirt campaign organised by Bayer 04, Barmenia and JAKO was originally to go to the Leverkusen project 'Bayer 04 im Quartier'. However, given the great suffering of millions of people in Ukraine the all the different managements decided to use the money for Ukraine aid.
The Leverkusen community foundation and Bayer 04 worked successfully together last summer in providing flood relief that saw fast support given to numerous people in and around Leverkusen.
Photo (left to right): Meinolf Sprink (Bayer 04 director of fans/community), Marc Adomat (City manager in the city of Leverkusen), Markus Grawe (Chair of the foundation committee at the Leverkusen community foundation) and Fernando Carro (Bayer 04 CEO).
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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