“We are very happy with Achim Feifel’s work. We need continuity in this position to achieve our ambitious targets,” said Thomas Eichin, head of the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. “Achim Feifel has developed the team as we imagined and we are looking forward to carrying on working with him.”
The qualified sports teacher took over in 2019/20. The Werkself Women stayed up in the first season finishing in tenth place and also progressed to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. The work of the coaching staff in terms of fitness as well as technical and tactical aspects has certainly paid off since the start of this season. Before the end of the first half of the season, the Bayer 04 Women had more points than in the whole of the previous campaign (17) and are currently fifth in the table on 29 points with four games to play.
“I really enjoy working with this totally ambitious team who are happy to learn. We have already made very good progress here at Bayer 04 and the girls have always believed in themselves, the team and our success, ” said Achim Feifel. “I’m happy about the confidence shown in me and also carrying on in the same way together.”
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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