The Werkself – our team | Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Werkself

Coaches/staff

Coaches

Sergi Runge

Assistant Coach

Assistant coach analysis

Simon Lackmann

First-team analyst

Dr. Malte Krüger

Head of sports science and fitness

Prisca Volmary

Sports scientist

Staff

Hans-Peter Lehnhoff

Team liaison manager

Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar

Head team doctor

Dr. Philipp Ehrenstein

Team doctor

Dr. Stefan Porten

Team doctor

Sven Elsinger

Head of physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Ill-Han Yu

Head physiotherapist

Florian Kroder

Physiotherapist

Jonas Schmitt

Physiotherapist

David Jann

Physiotherapist

Stephan Hartner

Physiotherapist

Christian Beckers

Head of support staff

Martin Kowatzki

Support staff

Markus Irmer

Support staff

Lena Kadlec

Sports Nutritionist (External)

Werkstatt

Carsten Rademacher

Head of department

Hans-Jörg Schneider

Physiotherapist

Gregor Stumpf

Rehabilitation trainer

Florian Cordes

Physiotherapist

Vladislav Kats

Rehabilitation trainer

Philipp Karcher

Physiotherapist/ Rehabilitation trainer

Ahura Bassimtabar

Physiotherapist

Tim Hielscher

Physiotherapist, Osteopath and Sports Scientist

Nematollah Beigizadeh

Physiotherapist

Sabine Christmann-Schaaf

Administrative management and medical assistant

News

Champions League - 05.11.2025

Live blog: The Werkself away to Benfica

The second European away game takes the Werkself to the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Kasper Hjulmand's team will face record champions Benfica on Wednesday, 5 November (kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET) on matchday 4 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. As usual, we will take you along on the #aCROSSeurope journey and report from Lisbon. The times given are Central European Time.

Bayer 04 gewinnt in Lissabon | Champions League

Werkself-TV - 05.11.2025

TV highlights of the 1-0 win at Benfica

Werkself TV shows highlights of the 1-0 win for Bayer 04 at Benfica on matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...

Champions League - 05.11.2025

1-0 at Benfica – Sub Schick earns first Champions League win this season

The Werkself beat Benfica 1-0 on Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase to seal three crucial points! Both teams had promising chances in the first half, but the contest was goalless at half-time. Substitute Patrik Schick headed in to score the only goal after the restart (65’). The home side went looking for an equaliser but Bayer 04 defended passionately to see out the storm.

Champions League - 05.11.2025

Matchday News #SLBB04: Important UCL clash as Grimaldo returns

One Bayer 04 player in particular is looking forward to the Werkself’s Champions League match away at Benfica on Wednesday 5 November (kick-off at 21:00 CET). Alejandro Grimaldo returns to his old stomping ground for the first time since he joined Bayer 04 two years ago. He encounters a Portuguese side that are unbeaten in the domestic league but under pressure in the UEFA Champions League having not taken any points, even under new coach José Mourinho. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in Lisbon.

Bundesliga - 05.11.2025

DFL schedules Matchdays 13 to 19 – Top billing for derby against Köln

The German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the schedule for Matchdays 13 to 19 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The fixtures at a glance.

News centre

Videos

Werkself-TV - 05.11.2025

TV highlights of the 1-0 win at Benfica

Werkself TV shows highlights of the 1-0 win for Bayer 04 at Benfica on matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...

Pressekonferenz vor dem CL-Spiel in Lissabon | UCL 4. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 04.11.2025

Hjulmand ahead of #SLBB04: ‘Be proactive, courageous and determined to get three important points’

The first victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 is firmly in sight: On Wednesday, 5 November (kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 21:00 CET), the Werkself are away to Portuguese record champions Benfica. Ahead of the clash, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the clear approach and the great importance of this encounter for both parties. Alejandro Grimaldo, who joined Bayer 04 from Benfica in 2023, also looked back on his more than seven years with the club.

Werkself beaten 3-0 away at leaders Bayern Munich | 9th matchday

Werkself-TV - 01.11.2025

TV highlights of 0-3 loss at Bayern Munich

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-3 loss at FC Bayern Munich on the 9th matchday of the Bundesliga 2025/26...

Die PK vor dem Topspiel beim FC Bayern | 9. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 31.10.2025

Hjulmand ahead of #FCBB04: Courage and confidence against ‘one of the best teams in Europe’

Bayern Munich, who have won every competitive game this season, host a Werkself side who have picked up 16 out of a possible 18 points in the Bundesliga recently. "We're really looking forward to it," said Bayer 04 coach Kasper Hjulmand ahead of the Bundesliga showpiece at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday night, 1 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET).