“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.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss against VfL Wolfsburg on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Bayer 04’s eight opponents in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League have been confirmed. At the draw on Friday 28 August held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the Werkself were drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots. There are a total of four home and four away matches. Read on for details of opponents and fixture dates.
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In the 3-2 defeat at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg, the Werkself found the back of the net in the closing stages and, with a bit of luck, could still have equalised. “Today, our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” said head coach Carles Martínez. Like the boss, Ibrahim Maza also wants to learn from the match and look ahead: “Next week, people should be able to see from the very first minute that we want it more than our opponents.” The Werkself review on the Bundesliga opener in 2026/27.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-3 loss at SV 07 Elversberg on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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No points to start the league campaign: Bayer 04 lost 3-2 away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg in the first Bundesliga match of the 2026/27 campaign. Two quick-fire goals from Lukas Petkov (8’) and Cole Campbell (10’) gave the hosts an early lead, before David Mokwa scored the Saarland side’s third shortly after half-time (46’). In the closing stages, the Werkself rallied and staged a late comeback with goals from Patrik Schick (77’) and Christian Kofane (90+1’), but the Black and Reds were denied an equaliser.
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