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.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 at TSG Hoffenheim on the 3rd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Starting with the 2026/27 season, Bayer 04 has created a permanent memorial space at the BayArena. In the upper section of Block A in the southeast corner of the stadium, Werkself fans can honour friends and family members with whom they have shared many special moments connected to Bayer 04. In the coming months, this space will be gradually expanded, in particular with the active support of the fans.
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Bayer 04 has secured a new premium partner in DXC Technology, a leading provider of enterprise technology and innovation. The club has agreed a partnership with DXC running until 30 June 2028. At the heart of the partnership is DXC’s role as an AI integration partner. The company is integrating Bayer 04’s previously separate digital systems into a unified fan journey that begins long before matchday and extends well beyond the stadium visit. As a partner of the women’s team and main sponsor of #B04eSports, DXC will be supporting two promising sections of the club during this period. DXC will also gain significant visibility as the sleeve partner of the women’s team in the DFB Pokal.
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Union Berlin have already shown great fighting spirit and courage in their first two matches of the season. In their away match at Leverkusen on Saturday, 5 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Irons, under new coach Mauro Lustrinelli, are determined to be a tough opponent for the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.
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