True to the club motto 'The other family', the general meeting of the TSV Bayer 04 football section was held at the media centre at the BayArena on Monday night. In a repeat of last year, there were no elections in 2019. Linda Schöttler (Women), Friedhelm Renno (Senior Committee), Dirk Dreher (Veterans team) and Roman Klossek (Youth) plus Jürgen Gelsdorf, chair of the football section, were only elected two years ago.
After a welcome from Jürgen Gelsdorf, the Bayer 04 members who passed away in the last 12 months were remembered. That was followed by honours for those members who have been with TSV Bayer 04 for 25 years or more. Honoured for 25 years of Bayer 04 membership: Berthold Verhees, Horst Stollenwerk, Vladimir Kadlec and Wolfgang Jedwabny. The following have completed 40 years of membership: Reiner Moschall, Clemens Peters plus Klaus Herbertz. The only one celebrating 50 years of membership on the night was Johann 'Hans' Zimmermann. All those honoured were presented with a Bayer 04 shirt with their name on the back.
The club management on the top table then presented a review of the year on the pitch. Linda Schöttler started by highlighting the main target of the Bayer 04 Women this season: to stay in the Allianz Women's Bundesliga. Dirk Dreher looked at the forthcoming events involving the Bayer 04 Veterans and announced to the members that the former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling will be part of the team for the first time this year.
And Fernando Carro, chairman of the board of Bayer 04 Fußball GmbH, did not miss out on the chance to attend the general meeting for the first time and say a few words to the assembled members. Carro focused on the current situation for the Werkself in the Bundesliga and the ambition to be back on the European stage next season. The Spaniard by birth always strives to set himself ambitious targets – And Fernando Carro and the Bayer 04 members at the media centre were unanimous in one desire: "This club deserves titles!"
In the first episode of the new interview series "A New Chapter", Werkself defender Jarell Quansah reflects on his first few months under the Cross and speaks about his journey from England to Leverkusen. Having come through the ranks at Liverpool, a new chapter began for Quansah in the summer at Bayer 04 — with new objectives, fresh challenges and much ambition. In the video, the centre-back speaks about his development as a player and person, about the courage to leave your own comfort zone, and about what it means for him to be part of an international team in a different country. Honest, reflective and full of motivation — just like the start of his Werkself career.
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Full focus on Hoffenheim: after the late postponement of the away match at Hamburger SV, the Werkself are looking forward. To get themselves in top shape for the key clash at top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 17 January (kick-off 15:30 CET), a number of players showed full commitment even on a day off - including two AFCON returnees...
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After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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