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

Bundesliga - 21.03.2026

Matchday news #FCHB04: Perfect record against bottom side Heidenheim

Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.

Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | 27. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 20.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #FCHB04: ‘We want to go into the international break feeling good’

Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.

Bundesliga - 20.03.2026

Our next opponents: Will staying up become a mission impossible?

A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.

DFB-Pokal - 18.03.2026

Tickets for the DFB Pokal semi-final against FC Bayern

Bayer 04 host Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal. The tie will be played on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, at the BayArena with the kick-off at 20:45 CEST. Information on ticket sales.

Champions League - 18.03.2026

Werkself review #ARSB04: ‘Gain important experience from these twelve games’

Hopes were high but disappointment was evident at the end of the second leg of the Round of 16 of UEFA Champions League 2025/26 with the Werkself losing 2-0 to clinical hosts Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Although this marks the end of the journey in the UCL this term the realisation remains that Bayer 04 are "not as far away as it might feel right now", as head coach Kasper Hjulmand said after the game. The Werkself review.

News centre

Videos

Werkself-TV - 20.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #FCHB04: ‘We want to go into the international break feeling good’

PK mit Kasper Hjulmand und Exequiel Palacios vor dem UCL-Rückspiel gegen Arsenal | Achtelfinale

Werkself-TV - 16.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #ARSB04: 'We’ve come here to win this game'

Can Bayer 04 pull off a coup in London? Just over a week after the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie, the Werkself are now looking to put in a convincing performance away at Arsenal – and get a result to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Ahead of the match on Tuesday, (kick-off: 21:00 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand shared his thoughts on the team’s hunger for success. Exequiel Palacios, meanwhile, spoke about the importance of the fixture and the team’s development over the past few months.

Werkself miss out on victory in a thrilling match | 26th matchday

Werkself-TV - 14.03.2026

TV highlights of 1-1 draw against FC Bayern

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against FC Bayern Munich on Matchday 26 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Die PK vor dem Topspiel gegen den FC Bayern | 26. Spieltag

Werkself-TV - 13.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #B04FCB: Bayern ‘maybe a bit more complete than Arsenal’

Another home game, another top opponent - another marker? Three days after their convincing performance in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg, Bayer 04 continue their Bundesliga campaign with an equally high-calibre fixture. Matchday 26 sees league leaders Bayern Munich visit the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the clash, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about a comparison between Arsenal and the Bavarians, Bayern's high-scoring performance in Europe's premier club competition and a return to the squad for one Werkself player.