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13.12.2025Women

Bayer 04 recognised as DFB talent support centre for women

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a women’s talent support centre. As announced by the DFB, 1 FC Köln, Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Hamburger SV are also certified as performance or talent support centres from 1 January 2026 in addition to the Werkself.
U23-Frauen von Bayer 04

Six other clubs from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga were granted this status as of 1 January 2025. The female performance and talent support centres were introduced to professionalise and sustainably strengthen the youth development areas in the Women's Bundesliga and regional leagues. Following a pilot phase last year, the first six clubs were recognised as performance and talent support centres at the start of 2025.

DFB performance and talent support centres primarily differ in terms of structural and minimum staffing requirements. Clubs must submit their documentation by 31 March 2026 to be recognised for the 2026/2027 season.

Since April, Daniel Ziegler has held the newly created position of Sporting Director Girls at Bayer 04, while the 28-year-old also coaches the  U23s, the oldest of the club's five youth teams. The full-time positions held by Ziegler and his fellow U23 coach Mirko Casper are part of the DFB requirements for recognition as a talent support centre.

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