“We’re very happy with the work of Jan Hoepner and Thomas Zdebel. Both with the individual work with the talents and with the development of the team,” said Thomas Eichin, head of the youth section at Bayer 04. “We have ambitious targets for the years ahead. And both will make valuable contributions.”
Jan Hoepner joined Bayer 04 in 2016. The 39-year-old was previously centre of excellence coordinator for the German Football Association (DFB) in the Middle Rhine region. Hoepner initially worked with Patrick Weiser in looking after the U17s and Thomas Zdebel arrived in the summer of 2019.
The former Poland international made 394 appearances for clubs in Germany (Rot-Weiss Essen, FC Köln, VfL Bochum, Bayer 04 (January to September 2010) and Alemannia Aachen), Belgium (Lierse SK) and Turkey (Genclerbirligi Ankara). The 47-year-old ended his playing career in 2011 and moved into coaching shortly after that. He started at SV Bergisch Gladbach. Zdebel was first the youth coach, then head of youth and, between 2015 and 2017, in charge of the senior team in the Middle Rhine League. He returned to Leverkusen in the summer of 2019 after a stint at TV Herkenrath.
Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
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Like last year, Bayer 04 Women held their summer training camp in Rieden. Coach Roberto Pätzold gives his assessment of the time in the Upper Palatinate, discusses the integration of the 11 new players and the unusual team building measures, gives his thoughts on the friendly and looks ahead to the start of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga season in August.
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Just in time for the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Werkself will hold another open training session on Tuesday 21 July. The session at the BayArena is scheduled to start at 11:00 CEST and will again be available to watch in a live stream. The fans who are there can look forward to a very special surprise.
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Bayer 04 turned in a dominant performance in a 7-0 win against fifth-tier side Sportfreunde Baumberg in their first friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. A brace from debutant Afonso Moreira (19', 27') either side of a Christian Kofane strike (23') put the Werkself 3-0 up in the first of the two 35-minute halves in Monheim am Rhein. After the break, Victor Boniface (49', 53'), Robert Andrich (56') and Nathan Tella (67') scored for the completely changed Leverkusen team. It was therefore a successful friendly debut for new head coach Carles Martínez and his team, although the hosts also had something to celebrate despite the defeat: the match marked the inauguration of Baumberg's new ground, the MEGA Stadion.
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