Sergi Runge – Assistant Coach

Sergi Runge joined the first-team coaching staff in September 2025, following the hiring of Kasper Hjulmand as head coach, and became assistant coach of the Werkself.

The Spanish native, who speaks German fluently in addition to Spanish and English, began his journey with Bayer 04 in March 2022. Prior to that, Runge was in charge of the U16 team at La Masia, FC Barcelona’s legendary youth academy.

At Bayer 04, at the age of just 28 and after nearly half a year as an assistant coach, he took over as head coach of the U17 team in the summer of 2022. In his second season in this role, Runge led the team to the final of the German B-Junior Championship. He then took over the Leverkusen U19 team—and also reached the final of the German A-Junior Championship with the club’s oldest youth squad.

Before his time at Bayer 04, Runge gained his first experience as a youth coach while studying sports science in Barcelona, including a stint with the Spanish third-division club Unió Esportiva Cornellà. After completing his master’s degrees (in Education and Sports Management), he moved to one of Costa Rica’s top clubs: At Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, he served as assistant coach of the first-division team and as head coach of the U17 squad. Until his aforementioned move to Leverkusen in March 2022, Runge then spent two years working in FC Barcelona’s youth academy.