Performance Centre
presented by BarmeniaGothaer
At Kurtekotten
As one of the first German clubs, Bayer 04 opened their Performance Centre at Kurtekotten presented by BarmeniaGothaer in the direct vicinity of the Bayer Works in 2000. Three grass pitches and an artificial pitch plus additional training areas including a modern support facilities form the heart of this facility. Over the course of time two additional grass pitches were added at the Performance Centre and an artificial pitch at the BayArena. That offers the oldest age groups not just proximity to the first team but also the opportunity to use the facilities at the BayArena. The teams from the U8s to the U15s and the Women's team are based at Kurtekotten while the U16, U17 and U19 teams are at home at the BayArena.
Teams
Youth section
Head of Academy: Jefta Bresser
Academy Manager: Slawomir Czarniecki
Head U8 – U15: Jörg Bittner
Head of Coaching U16s – U19s: Gerard Roca
Head of Coaching U8s – U15s: Sven Hübscher
Education manager: Frank Ditgens
Media officer: Liam Schardt
Contact
Phone: +49 (0)214 - 5000 - 1904
Email: leistungszentrum@bayer04.de
Address: Otto-Bayer-Straße 2, 51061 Köln
Management
Jefta Bresser
Date of birth: 02.02.1971
Place of birth: Wisch, Netherlands
The trained academy director and football coach took over as head of Leverkusen's performance centre in October 2023. Bresser came from Dutch second-division club De Graafschap, where he previously enjoyed five years of great success as head of the youth academy. Between 2005 and 2015, the 52-year-old was responsible for the individual development of youth players of all age groups at PSV Eindhoven, FC Fulham and Zenit St. Petersburg.
Competitions of Teams
U19: U19 DFB Nachwuchsliga
U17: U17 DFB Nachwuchsliga
U16: U16 Youth Cup
U15: U15 Regional League West
U14: U14 Youth Cup
U13: U13 Youth Cup
U12: U12 Youth Cup
U11 bis U8: individual
Frauen: Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga
Parental support
Rainer Fehl
The Kurtekotten Performance Centre has had a member of staff working full-time on the partnership with the parents of youth players at Bayer 04 since 2020.
Having a child at an academy for several years can be very demanding for the whole family. Bayer 04 are aware of that and have appointed Reiner Fehl in this role as an experienced and full-time educator.
Fehl: "Parents are a crucial and indispensable part of the sporting and personal development of young players within a football academy. They fulfil many important roles in and around training and matches. I can help them in many aspects in overcoming these complex demands."
This is not about interfering in parents' parenting work and methods but instead developing with them approaches that can help them and their children to combine elite sport, school and family and to define their role in matches and training.
Fehl: "We now have a comprehensive and interesting programme for the parents, and the partnership is going very well. We are particularly proud of several social projects from the parents that have been organised through the commitment of the parent representatives. We are on a very good path and no development is possible without the parents."
Partners
Patrons
Directions
Philosophy
Our young players receive optimum support through targeted individual and team training as well as interesting comparative games. At the same time we obviously hope that our young players develop to the maximum in an environment tailored to them to help them develop their full potential and make the step up to our own first team.
We at Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH are aware of our great responsibility when it comes to working with children and adolescents. It is therefore a matter of course for us to actively assume this responsibility for the well-being of the children and adolescents entrusted to us and to protect them from abuse, violence, and discrimination of any kind within our environment. Our child protection policy applies to all areas of the club and focuses on the protection and rights of children and adolescents.
Coaching Academy
The Coaching Academy is responsible for the continual development of style of play and the training methods of the club combined with the club philosophy, the development of the game and best practice.
Bayer 04 coaches have the opportunity to use the ideas from the Bayer 04 Coaching Academy for themselves and their development.
Trials
Bayer 04 offer open trials days for outfield players and goalkeepers for all football enthusiastic lads in Leverkusen and surrounding areas. If you would like to test your ability under the eyes of youth coaches at Bayer 04 and have the dream of playing for one of the youth teams at the Werkself then you can register for the training sessions at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre presented by BarmeniaGothaer.
News
Werkself-TV - 01.11.2026
Women: TV-highlights of 0-1 loss at FC Bayern
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27
Show more
Women - 01.11.2026
Bayer 04 Women exit DFB Pokal in Munich
The Bayer 04 women’s team have failed to reach the DFB Pokal quarter-finals. Coach Roberto Pätzold’s side lost 1-0 away to Bayern Munich in the Round of 16. Pernille Harder scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute for the reigning double winners, who have now gone 63 matches unbeaten at national level.
Show more
Women - 30.10.2026
‘Put in a top performance’: Women’s side take on holders Bayern Munich in DFB Pokal Round of 16
The Bayern Munich women’s football team are unbeaten in all domestic competitions in the last 62 matches. On Sunday (15:00 CET), the Bayer 04 women’s team will make their next attempt to end the holders unbeaten run in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie. For coach Roberto Pätzold, there are a number of factors that give the Werkself cause for optimism despite the high-calibre opposition.
Show more
Football Academy - 29.10.2026
Bender and Ostermeier visit Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp
A special afternoon at the Bayer 04 Football Academy autumn camp: At the Liga 20 indoor football centre, in the shadow of the BayArena, two Werkself women’s team players led a training session. Loreen Bender and Selina Ostermeier not only offered the young players advice and support, but also got stuck in themselves.
Show more
U19 - 26.10.2026
U19s face Marseille youth team in friendly on UEL matchday
The Bayer 04 U19s are set to host Marseille in a top-level friendly. The match against the French side is at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Thursday, 5 November, at 14:00 CET. Admission is free for fans. A few hours later, the two clubs face each other in the Europa League at the BayArena.
Show more
