The volunteers were welcomed during half-time and thanked again for their tireless commitment by Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, and Uwe Richrath, mayor of the city of Leverkusen. The people involved not only took part in clear-up work but also offered overnight accommodation, and the distribution of donated clothes was also made using Bayer 04 vehicles and the same applied to food and drink. In addition, volunteers and people requiring help were brought together by the social media of the fan groups, fan liaison and Bayer 04.
The management at Bayer 04 and Bayer AG announced a donation of €600,000 to people affected in the region – including a €50,000 donation to the Leverkusen community foundation. Bayer 04 have supported the foundation for several years.
The regular donations from the club increased again against the background of the flood disaster. The money goes to the 'Leverkusen hilft!' campaign. This is primarily aimed at supporting sports facilities in and around Leverkusen that have been damaged by the floods.
Donations are still welcome via:
Account number: DE40 3755 1440 0100 1262 26
Reference: Leverkusen hilft
The Werkself were visibly affected at the training camp in Salzburger Land and they thanked the volunteers in the Rhineland for their commitment. Head coach Gerardo Seoane and the club management decided to organise a benefit match this season after discussion with the team. In addition, ticket receipts from the two friendlies against Utrecht and Oberhausen played at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium were also donated.
The Bayer 04 Veterans have already played in support for the flood victims. Jens Nowotny, Ramazan Özcan, Hanno Balitsch und Co. have been in action at Sportfreunde Neitersen and Leichlingen.
Volunteers from the following organisations watched the Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday 21 August: The German Red Cross in Leverkusen, the Bundeswehr reconnaissance battalion 7, fire fighting units from Leverkusen-Schlebusch, Bergisch Neukirchen and Lützenkirchen, the fire brigades from Braunschweig, Bartolfelde, Bad Lauterberg im Harz and Leverkusen, THW Leverkusen, the volunteer fire brigade from Adelebsen, Scharzfeld and Lödingsen, the Flecken Gittelde local fire brigade and the Malteser emergency service.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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