Wind of change

 In addition to new head coach Bruno Labbadia and his assistant Eddy Sözer, the Werkself coaching team is also strengthened with the rival of fitness coach Zvonko Komes. And there are also improvements key positions in the squad. Striker Patrick Helmes, who moves from FC Köln to the other side of the Rhine, the two Brazilians Henrique (central defence) and Renato Augusto (midfield) plus the later arrival of left back Michal Kadlec go straight into the regular starting eleven. Other new members to the squad are the Ivorian Constant Djakpa plus home-grown players Jens Hegeler, Stefan Reinartz, Marcel Risse and Richard Sukuta-Pasu. The last three were members of the Germany U19 side that won the European Championships in the summer of 2008.

 Amphitheatre BayArena

 Games carry on in the first half of the season at the stadium in Leverkusen during the redevelopment work. There are nine home games before the winter break played at the roofless BayArena. And the weather plays along for Bayer 04: The spectators never get rained on. Next year brings the move to the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf.

 

Women's football at Leverkusen

For the first time in the club's history a women's team will wear the Bayer 04 shirt. The team coached by Doreen Meier, originating from the football section at TuS Köln, start in the second division of the Bundesliga. The home venue is the Kurt Rieß ground of TSV Bayer 04

Good start for the Werkself

Bayer 04 pick up 12 points after six match days putting them second in the table. Patrick Helmes had already scored seven goals at this point. Bayer 04 progressed through the first two rounds of the DFB Cup against Oberhausen and Augsburg.

BayArena as a World Cup venue

Bayer 04 made a great effort and produced a clearly impressive presentation: Exactly 1000 days before the start of the Women's World Cup in Germany on 26 June 2011 Leverkusen is named as one of the nine stadium venues at a ceremony in the Federal Chancellor's office in Berlin. At least three group games and a Round of 16 tie will be played at the new BayArena in 2011.

Adler’s great debut for Germany

It could not have been any better for René Adler in his debut for Germany. Leverkusen's number one produced a very impressive performance in the World Cup qualifier against Russia (2-1) played in Dortmund. And Adler repeated that level of performance in the 1-0 win against Wales.

Bundesliga match 1,000 ends in victory

The 2-0 win at Werder Bremen is a fitting result for a big anniversary. Arturo Vidal and Manuel Friedrich score the goals in Bayer 04's 1,000th Bundesliga fixture. It is victory number 409 since the club joined the Bundesliga.

Women's football at Leverkusen

 For the first time in the club's history a women's team will wear the Bayer 04 shirt. The team coached by Doreen Meier, originating from the football section at TuS Köln, start in the second division of the Bundesliga. The home venue is the Kurt Rieß ground of TSV Bayer 04

 Good start for the Werkself

 Bayer 04 pick up 12 points after six match days putting them second in the table. Patrick Helmes had already scored seven goals at this point. Bayer 04 progressed through the first two rounds of the DFB Cup against Oberhausen and Augsburg.

 BayArena as a World Cup venue

 Bayer 04 made a great effort and produced a clearly impressive presentation: Exactly 1000 days before the start of the Women's World Cup in Germany on 26 June 2011 Leverkusen is named as one of the nine stadium venues at a ceremony in the Federal Chancellor's office in Berlin. At least three group games and a Round of 16 tie will be played at the new BayArena in 2011.

 Adler’s great debut for Germany

 It could not have been any better for René Adler in his debut for Germany. Leverkusen's number one produced a very impressive performance in the World Cup qualifier against Russia (2-1) played in Dortmund. And Adler repeated that level of performance in the 1-0 win against Wales.

 Bundesliga match 1,000 ends in victory

 The 2-0 win at Werder Bremen is a fitting result for a big anniversary. Arturo Vidal and Manuel Friedrich score the goals in Bayer 04's 1,000th Bundesliga fixture. It is victory number 409 since the club joined the Bundesliga.

4 March 2009: 54th. minute at the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf – Tranquillo Barnetta scores the opener against Bayern.

 Poor home form

 Bayer 04 are only able to win one of eight Bundesliga games in Düsseldorf. The Werkself beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-0 on the penultimate matchday and after 34 games the season ends with Leverkusen in ninth place and once again failing to qualify for Europe.

 Schnix makes brief comeback

 After a long injury lay-off, Bernd Schneider returned in the 5-0 win against Mönchengladbach where he provided an assist for Michal Kadlec. It was the last appearance for Schnix as a professional footballer. He ends his playing career in the summer break at the advice of his doctors due to continuing problems with his cervical spine.

Final

A 4-1 win (after extra time) in the semi-final against FSV Mainz 05 (goals from Charisteas, Vidal, Rolfes and Kadlec) takes Bayer 04 to a third DFB Cup final after 1993 and 2002. In a close game, the Werkself lose 1-0 to Werder Bremen. Mesut Özil scores the winner for Bremen.

30 May 2009: Bayer 04, start the Cup final against Werder Bremen in Berlin with the following line-up, back row from the left: René Adler, Manuel Friedrich, Michal Kadlec, Lukas Sinkiewicz, Stefan Kießling, Simon Rolfes; squatting from left to right: Patrick Helmes, Gonzalo Castro, Tranquillo Barnetta, Arturo Vidal, Renato Augusto

 Labbadia goes, Jupp Heynckes arrives

 Following the final match of the season, coach Bruno Labbadia leaves Leverkusen after one season to manage Hamburg. Bayer 04 present Jupp Heynckes as the new head coach. Heynckes, the successor to Jürgen Klinsmann, took over for the last five weeks the season and took Bayern Munich to the Champions League.