"After much thought and countless scenarios regarding our future, we have finally come to the decision not to continue our journey with Bayer 04. We felt a responsibility to the club to inform them of this decision in good time," declared the twins in a joint statement. "This decision has been anything but easy not least because of the honest, fair and understanding relationship with the Leverkusen club management in the past and right up to today. Bayer 04 now have time to plan and that was important to us."
Bayer 04 sporting managing director Rudi Völler praised the "exceptional performances of both Bender brothers over the years. There are few players in the Bundesliga like Lars and Sven. They represent football class, extreme professionalism and absolute reliability plus determination and commitment," said Völler. "We need their qualities in the remaining six months to achieve our big targets. Exactly that ambition is evident in both of them who always give 100 per cent right to the end. And regarding Lars, I've hardly seen another player at Leverkusen who has identified so much with Bayer 04. We owe Lars a huge amount of gratitude."
The two 31-year-olds specifically expressed their close connection to Bayer 04. "At the end of the day, it was not a decision against the club but about health and family. We recognise it will be difficult to play football at this high level beyond the summer. Anybody who knows us, also knows we give 100 per cent every day. For us that has always been the basic requirement in training and in matches. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly more difficult for us to perform consistently at that level because of all the pain and physical problems, which are affecting us more and more."
Before ending their careers as Bayer 04 players, Lars and Sven Bender will continue to have the targets of the club as their priority: "Of course, we’ll do all we can to write a successful final chapter here at Leverkusen by ending a very successful season to date with the achievement of our ambitious targets."
And Lars Bender added after eleven years at Leverkusen: "I'll try to enjoy the remaining time and every moment as I have learned to value and love the club and all the wonderful people here. And I was and am proud of being part of the history of Bayer 04."
After Jens Nowotny was officially named a Bayer 04 honorary captain last weekend, the long-standing Werkself player is part of the Leverkusen delegation on the trophy tour to New York City next week from 11 to 14 September. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 50-year-old talked about his expectations ahead of the trip to the metropolis on the East Coast of the USA.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for matchdays 6 to 12 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Full details of the Bayer 04 fixtures.
Show moreMarkus Rehm, a long jumper at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, won the gold medal for the fourth time in succession at the Paralympics on Wednesday.
Show moreThe fixture details for the second round of the DFB Pokal 2024/25 have been confirmed. The home tie for Bayer 04 against second division SV 07 Elversberg is on Tuesday, 29 October with the kick off at 18.00 CET (live on Sky). That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
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