As one of the first German clubs, Bayer 04 opened their Performance Centre at Kurtekotten presented by Barmenia 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.
Head of Performance Centre: Jefta Bresser
Head U16-U19: Slawomir Czarniecki
Head U8-U15: Jörg Bittner
Head of training academy: Keld Bordinggaard
Education manager: Frank Ditgens
Parental support: Rainer Fehl
Youth media officer: Liam Schardt
Contact
Phone: +49 (0)214 - 5000 - 1904
Email: leistungszentrum@bayer04.de
Address
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Otto-Bayer-Straße 2
51061 Köln
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. He has thus filled the gap left in the summer by the transfer of former head of youth development Thomas Eichin to the role of director of licensing at Bayer 04.
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.
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.
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. Under the leadership of Keld Bordinggaard their knowledge and strengths can and should be continually developed.
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 Barmenia.
A dream start to the new season for Bayer 04 Women and new head coach Roberto Pätzold, whose side won 3-2 at SC Freiburg in a dramatic contest on Saturday afternoon. Janou Levels (37'), Selina Ostermeier (45') and Kristin Kögel (88' pen) netted for the Werkself, with Annabel Schasching (15') and Eileen Campbell (81') both scoring from the spot for the hosts.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-2 win at SC Freiburg on matchday 1 of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreThe Bayer 04 Women finally return to match action after two and a half months of preparation. The team under new coach Roberto Pätzold start the 2024/25 season away to SC Freiburg at the Dreisamstadion on Saturday (kick-off: 14.00 CEST, live on Magenta Sport and DAZN). Goalkeeper Friederike Repohl takes over as captain following on from Elisa Senß who has moved on to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Show moreCaroline Kehrer signed for the Bayer 04 Women's team in the summer after two successful years as a striker at SC Braga. The Canadian American centre-forward wants to carry on at Leverkusen where she left off in Portugal. That intention started well with three goals in pre-season friendlies. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 27-year-old talks about the many nationalities in the team as well as her approach on and off the pitch.
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