Youth: Coaching structure for 2025/26
The head coaches of the U16 to U19 youth teams at Bayer 04 welcome some new faces to the coaching staff for the 2025/26 campaign. Overview of new set-up.
U19 head coach Sergi Runge can continue to rely on the services of Gilbert Gorges as his assistant coach. The position of goalkeeping coach goes to Marco Kostmann following the departure of Sören Rittmeier to second division club FC Kaiserslautern. The 59-year-old previously worked for Arminia Bielefeld and most recently with the Bundesliga team at FC Augsburg. Also new to the U19 coaching staff is the Spanish fitness coach Oscar Balaguer Cabeza who joins Bayer 04 from the top flight in Malaysia.
The U19s are currently training at the BayArena. There will be another break of two weeks at the start of July before the league campaign run-in launches on 21 July ahead of the start at the beginning of August.
U19 goalkeeping coach Marco Kostmann
Brok and Adam with new assistant coaches
U17 head coach Kevin Brok continues in his role along with two new assistant coaches Adrian Grümer (previously U19) and Albert Bunjaku (previously U16). Johann Rieckhof continues as the goalkeeping coach.
U16 head coach Benjamin Adam welcomes Sören Schuschke to his coaching staff for the new season with the new assistant coach coming to the club from the youth teams at FC Viktoria Köln. Damir Ivosevic remains in post as the goalkeeping coach.
YOUTH COACHES SET-UP FOR 2025/26
U19
Sergi Runge (head coach)
Gilbert Gorges (assistant coach)
Marco Kostmann (goalkeeping coach)
Vicente Morales (fitness coach)
Oscar Balaguer Cabeza (fitness coach)
Dr. Daniel Lay (team doctor)
Tobias Häusler (physiotherapist)
Manuel Schardt (physiotherapist)
Timo Heinze (sports psychologist)
Marcel Podszus (team manager)
U17
Kevin Brok (head coach)
Adrian Grümer (assistant coach)
Albert Bunjaku (assistant coach)
Johann Rieckhof (goalkeeping coach)
Daniel Adam (fitness coach)
Benjamin Balzien (team doctor)
Yannik Dielkus (physiotherapist)
Justin Glitt (physiotherapist)
Noël Kunz (sports psychologist)
Wolfgang Esins (team support)
Jonas Knappe (team support)
U16
Benjamin Adam (head coach)
Sören Schuschke (assistant coach)
Damir Ivosevic (goalkeeping coach)
Philipp Kulier (fitness coach)
Thomas Huber (video analyst/team support)
Dr. Daniel Lay (team doctor)
King-Midas Ntem (physiotherapist)
Timo Heinze (sports psychologist)
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