Last Saturday's match against RB Leipzig (2-3) marked the end of his long working life. Time for retirement. Saying that: Anyone who knows Meinolf Sprink will know that the 66-year-old will definitely not take it too quietly to start with. Born in Düsseldorf, he has always been very interested in a lot of things and very communicative. Characteristics that fit the job requirements of his many posts.
The qualified logistics manager and Master of Business Administration started in journalism. After practical training at the Neuss-Grevenbroicher-Zeitung/Rheinische Post, Sprink went on to be the editor there. But he moved on to PR work for Bayer AG in 1988, which included heading the section of 'Press and PR inland'. Between 1996 and 1999 he took over the role of a media relations manager in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the American Bayer subsidiary of Bayer Corporations.
The next step in his career followed on his return from the USA: Sprink took over from Jürgen von Einem as the sports representative at Bayer AG on 1 January 2000. In this role he was also on the Bayer 04 Leverkusen. GmbH shareholders committee. Sprink, who played in the table tennis Bundesliga second division for Neusser TTC, worked on behalf the whole Bayer Sports set-up for seven years. In 2002 he was with the football team for the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Glasgow. Sprink gave the speech for Bayer 04 at the banquet on the night before the game and he received a "well done" from guest of honour Sir Sean Connery, the James Bond actor.
Away from the big stage, the group sports representative was to be found at a different type of Bayer sports event every weekend as a spectator and contact. Whether that was handball or volleyball, with the athletes and para-athletes at TSV, or hockey, which Spring always had a special connection with. Not least as Annika, one of his four daughters, won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with the Germany hockey team.
When Sprink moved from Bayer AG to Bayer 04 in 2007 he first took over the communications and marketing section. From 2013 to 2015 he was the communications/media director. Since July 2015 Spring with the director for fans and community affairs. In those areas he initiated, pushed and accompanied numerous projects, which saw him involved in frank and honest exchanges with everybody involved.
Even with all his commitments, the humorous Rhinelander could also take a relaxed view of things. Just one event a year is non-negotiable for him: Visiting the Neusser Bürger-Schützenfest festival at the end of August start of September in his hometown will count as a must in the future for the tradition-conscious Meinolf Sprink.
Alejo Sarco has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Sporting Gijón in Spain’s second division. Bayer 04 have secured a buy-back clause for the 20-year-old Argentine striker, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed 16-year-old midfield prospect Gabriel Minutillo on a long-term contract. The Germany youth international will play for the U19s this season.
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Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir for the time being.
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