Honorary captains
In order to document and reward this club loyalty and identification, Bayer 04 elevated a deserving player to the rank of honorary captain for the first time in 2004 in the person of Ulf Kirsten. Seven others have followed him in the years since: Carsten Ramelow in 2008, Bernd Schneider in 2010, Simon Rolfes in 2015, Stefan Kießling, Rüdiger Vollborn in 2019, Lars Bender in 2021, Jens Nowotny in 2024. They all fulfil the three "recruitment criteria" into the illustrious ranks of Werkself idols: at least ten years at the club, nearby 300 competitive matches - and an outstanding personality.
The illustrious circle
Jens Nowotny
Born: 11 January 1974 in Malsch
Clubs: SV Spielberg, FC Germania Friedrichstal, Karlsruher SC, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 334
Bundesliga goals: 11
Honours: 48 caps for germany (1 goals), Croatian champion 2007, Croatian Cup winner 2007, German runner-up 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002, Champions League finalist 2002, DFB Cup finalist 2002, World Cup bronze medallist 2006
Lars Bender
Born: 27 April 1989 in Rosenheim
Clubs: TSV Brannenburg, SpVgg Unterhaching, TSV 1860 Munich, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 256
Bundesliga goals: 21
Honours: 19 caps for Germany (4 goals), U19 European champion (2009), Silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Bundesliga runner-up (2011), DFB Pokal runner-up (2020), UEFA Champions League qualification (six times)
Stefan Kießling
Born: 25 January 1984 in Lichtenfels
Clubs: FC Eintracht Bamberg, 1. FC Nürnberg, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 403 (344 for Bayer 04, 59 for Nürnberg)
Bundesliga goals: 144 (131 for Bayer 04, 13 for Nürnberg)
Honours: 6 caps for Germany, Bundesliga top scorer (2013), Bundesliga runner-up (2011), Bundesliga 2 champion with Nürnberg (2004), third place at 2010 World Cup
Rüdiger Vollborn
Born: 12 February 1963 in Berlin
Clubs: 1. Traber FC Berlin, Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 401 (all for Bayer 04)
Bundesliga goals: 0
Honours: UEFA Cup winner (1988), DFB Pokal winner (1993), Bundesliga runner-up (1997 and 1999), U20 World Cup winner (1981)
Simon Rolfes
Born: 21 January 1982 in Ibbenbüren
clubs: Werder Bremen, SSV Reutlingen, Alemannia Aachen, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 288 (all for Bayer 04)
Bundesliga goals: 41 (all for Bayer 04)
Honours: 26 caps for Germany, Bundesliga champion with Werder Bremen (2004), DFB Pokal winner with Werder Bremen (2004), DFB Pokal runner-up (2009), Euro 2008 runner-up
Bernd Schneider
Born: 17 November 1973 in Jena
Clubs: BSG Aufbau Jena, Carl Zeiss Jena, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 296 (263 for Bayer 04, 33 for Eintracht Frankfurt)
Bundesliga goals: 39 (35 for Bayer 04, 4 for Eintracht Frankfurt)
Honours: 81 caps for Germany, World Cup runner-up (2002), World Cup third place (2006), Champions League runner-up (2002), DFB Pokal runner-up (2002 and 2009), Bundesliga runner-up (2000 and 2002)
Carsten Ramelow
Born: 20 March 1974 in Berlin
Clubs: Tasmania Neukölln, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Hertha Zehlendorf, SC Siemensstadt, Hertha Berlin, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 333 (all for Bayer 04)
Bundesliga goals: 22 (all for Bayer 04)
Honours: 46 caps for Germany, World Cup runner-up (2002), Champions League runner-up (2002), DFB Pokal runner-up (1993 and 2002), Bundesliga runner-up (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002)
Ulf Kirsten
Born: 4 December 1965 in Riesa
Clubs: BSG Chemie Riesa, BSG Stahl Riesa, Dynamo Dresden, Bayer 04
Bundesliga appearances: 350 (all for Bayer 04)
Bundesliga goals: 182 (all for Bayer 04)
Honours: 51 caps for Germany, 49 caps for East Germany, DFB Pokal winner (1993), Bundesliga top scorer (1993, 1997 and 1998), Champions League runner-up (2002), DFB Pokal runner-up (2002), Bundesliga runner-up (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002), East German champion with Dynamo Dresden (1989 and 1990), East German Cup winner with Dynamo Dresden (1984, 1985 and 1990), East German Footballer of the Year 1990
