Back
28.03.2024Youth

Sydney FC U19s in Leverkusen: ‘I've never experienced anything like it’

The U19 team of Australian club Sydney FC spent an eventful day at Bayer 04 ahead of Easter weekend as part of an upcoming tournament in Düsseldorf. The visit to a training session with the Werkself first team was followed by a match with the Leverkusen youngsters at the Kurtekotten performance centre. The boss of the Australian first division team, who had travelled with and is no stranger to football in Germany, drew a very positive conclusion of his time at Bayer 04.
crop_20240327_U17_B04Sydney_VK2_6123.jpg

As part of their 12-day trip to Germany, a visit to Leverkusen was on the agenda after a friendly match against Schalke in the middle of the week. The visit started in the morning with an exclusive tour of the BayArena and ended at the Bundesliga team's training ground.

There, the young Australian players got to watch Edmond Tapsoba, Jonas Hofmann & Co. train under the guidance of Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff.

Sydney FC

Jefta Bresser, head of the performance centre at Bayer 04, emphasised during the visit: “It's always interesting for us to see how football is played in other parts of the world. Such sporting comparisons and exchanges off the pitch are very important and helpful for all sides.”

A goal-filled friendly

After lunch, the Australian entourage then headed to the Kurtekotten performance centre, where a practice match against a mixed Bayer 04 U19/U17 team was the sporting highlight of the day. And it turned into an intense, high-scoring game in which it went back and forth. The lead changed hands time and again, with the match ultimately ending 5-4 in favour of the visiting Sydney side.

Testspiel gegen Sydney FC

BAUMJOHANN: “Incredibly well organised”

The Australian travelling party also included long-time Bundesliga player Alexander Baumjohann, now head of player management at the A-League club after two years as a player at Sydney FC. Following the match, the Bundesliga champion and two-time DFB Cup winner spoke of an “incredibly well-organised day by Bayer 04. I've never experienced anything like it. The club and the people in charge took great care of us, our players and we were very impressed.”

The contact between Sydney FC and Bayer 04 came about through Baumjohann and Simon Rolfes, managing director for sport at the current Bundesliga leaders. Baumjohann said: “We used to play against each other a lot and spoke a year or two ago. When it became clear that we would be taking part in the Easter tournament in Düsseldorf, I got in touch again, and that's how this wonderful day came about.”

Sydney FC are the first Australian club to take part in the international Easter tournament in Düsseldorf. From Thursday evening to Easter Monday, clubs from Germany and Sydney FC will face teams including Everton (England), Nordsjaelland (Denmark) and a Japanese university XI.

Related News

Loreen Bender und Vanessa Fudalle bejubeln den Treffer
Women - 18.07.2025

Women end first part of preseason with 1-0 win against Ajax

A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.

Show more
Alejo Sarco
Bayer 04 - 17.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Sarco: ‘I’m learning every day and I feel good’

Alejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 17.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Media event with Carro, Rolfes and ten Hag

The friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.

Show more
crop_20250717_JS_BRA_Day3_3481.jpg
Bayer 04 - 17.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Day three blog: Footvolley an Ipanema beach– Quansah and Kofane on board

Day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).

Show more