Bayer Leverkusen
Full name	TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V., Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH (Football)
Nickname(s)	Löwen (Lions) Werkself ("Factory Squad")
Founded	1904
Ground	BayArena, Leverkusen, formerly "Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion"
Capacity	22,500
Chairman	Wolfgang Holzhäuser
Manager	Michael Skibbe
League	Bundesliga
2005-06	Bundesliga, 5th
Home colours Away colours

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports. Image File history File links Bayer_Leverkusen. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The BayArena Leverkusen The BayArena is a football stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, which has been the home ground of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen since 1958. ... Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... This is a list of major football (soccer) stadia, grouped by country and ordered by capacity. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Michael Skibbe (born August 4, 1965) is a former German football (soccer) player and the current manager of the German club Bayer Leverkusen. ... In German football, the Bundesliga (Federal League) is the highest level league club competition where play determines the national champions. ... In German football, the Bundesliga (Federal League) is the highest level league club competition where play determines the national champions. ... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links soccer jersey with thin black sides File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links Kit_shorts. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... soccer jersey left arm with white shoulders File links The following pages link to this file: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. IFK Göteborg Malmö FF Template talk:Football kit Assyriska Helsingborgs IF Åtvidabergs FF User:Johan Elisson/football kits Categories: GFDL images | Football kit templates ... soccer jersey with white shoulders File links The following pages link to this file: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. IFK Göteborg Template talk:Football kit Assyriska Helsingborgs IF Åtvidabergs FF User:Johan Elisson/football kits Categories: GFDL images | Football kit templates ... soccer jersey right arm with white shoulders File links The following pages link to this file: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. IFK Göteborg Malmö FF Template talk:Football kit Assyriska Helsingborgs IF Åtvidabergs FF User:Johan Elisson/football kits Categories: GFDL images | Football kit templates ... Image File history File links Kit_shorts. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This is a list of football clubs in Germany. ... Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... North Rhine-Westphalia (German: Nordrhein-Westfalen, usually shortened to: NRW) is - in terms of population and economic output - the largest Federal State of Germany. ... A sports club, athletics club or sports association is an eclectic institution oriented to multiple sports, which fields many teams and have varied sports departments in several sports at a same time, working under the same umbrella organization. ... A womens 400 metre hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track. ... Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, forward rolls, aerials and tucks. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ...

History

Origins and the early years

On November 27, 1903, Wilhelm Hauschild wrote a letter – signed by 107 of his fellow workers – to his employer, the Friedrich Bayer and Co., seeking the company's support in starting a sports club. The company agreed to support the initiative, and on July 1, 1904, Turn- und Spielverein Bayer 04 Leverkusen was founded. November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Bayer AG (German pronunciation BYE-er, in US usually pronounced BAY-er) (NYSE: BAY, TYO: 4863 ) is a German chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1863. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On May 31, 1907, a separate football department was formed within the club. In the culture of sports in Germany at the time, there was significant animosity between gymnasts and other types of athletes. Eventually this contributed to a split within the club: on June 8, 1928, the footballers formed a separate association – Sportvereinigung Bayer 04 Leverkusen – that also included the handball and fistball players, athletics, and boxing, while the gymnasts carried on as TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen. SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen took with them the club's traditional colours of red and black, with the gymnasts adopting blue and yellow. May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Through this period, and into the 1930s, SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen played third and fourth division football. In 1936, they earned promotion to the second highest class of play of the period. That was also the year that the club wore the familiar "Bayer" cross for the first time. They made their first appearance in upper league play in 1951, in the Oberliga West and played there until 1956, after which they were relegated. SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen would not return to the upper leagues until 1962, just one season before the formation of Germany's new professional league, the Bundesliga. The next year saw the club in the Regionalliga West, tier II, where their performances over the next few seasons left them well down the league table. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... In German football, the Bundesliga (Federal League) is the highest level league club competition where play determines the national champions. ...

Entry to the Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen historical team logos.

SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen made something of a breakthrough in 1968, by winning the division title, but were unable to advance through the playoff round to the first division. They were relegated again in 1973, but made a quick return to what was now called the 2.Bundesliga after just one season spent in the third division. Four years later, the team handily secured a place in the Bundesliga to start to play there in the 1979-80 season. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x452, 105 KB) Summary Historical logos of Bayer Leverkusen / German football team Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x452, 105 KB) Summary Historical logos of Bayer Leverkusen / German football team Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The 2nd Bundesliga is the Second Division of professional football in Germany. ...

By the mid-1980s, SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen had played their way into the upper half of the league table and were well-established there by the end of the decade. It was during this time, in 1984, that the two halves of the club that had parted ways over half a century ago were re-united as TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V. The new club took red and white as their colours, but the footballers kept their now-familiar red and black jerseys. The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In addition to becoming an established Bundesliga side, the club earned its first honours with a dramatic win in the 1988 UEFA Cup. Down (0:3) to Espanyol after the first leg of the final, they drew even in the return match and then captured the title (3:2) on penalty kicks. The UEFA Cup 1987-88 was won by Bayer Leverkusen on penalty kicks over RCD Espanyol. ... RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (Spanish: Real Club Deportivo Español is a Spanish football club based in Barcelona, Spain. ...

That same year, long-time Bayer Leverkusen executive Reiner Calmund became the general manager of the club. This is regarded as one of the most important moves in Bayer Leverkusen's history, as Calmund ushered in a decade and a half of the club's greatest success through shrewd, far-sighted player acquisitions.

After the German reunification in 1990, Reiner Calmund was quick to sign East German stars Ulf Kirsten, Andreas Thom, and Jens Melzig. The three players would become instant crowd favourites, and make significant contributons to the team. Calmund also established groundbreaking contacts in Brazilian football, befriending Juan Figer, one of Brazil's most powerful player agents. Over the next few years, budding superstars, such as Jorginho and Paulo Sérgio, joined the team, as did Czech star Pavel Hapal. They also signed charismatic players, such as Bernd Schuster, and Rudi Völler, helping to ensure the team's popularity and growing success. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) German reunification (Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) took place on October 3, 1990, when the areas of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR, in English commonly called East Germany) were incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, in... This article is about the year. ... GDR redirects here. ... Ulf Kirsten (born December 4, 1965 in Riesa, East Germany) is a former German football (soccer) striker, the first player in history to reach a total 100 caps playing with two different national teams. ... Andreas Thom (born 7 September 1965 in Rüdersdorf, Germany) is a former German football (soccer) player, and currently the assistant coach at Hertha BSC Berlin under Falko Götz. ... Brazilian football fans As in many countries, football came to Brazil at the feet of English expatriates. ... Jorginho, real name Jorge de Amorim Campos, (born August 17, 1964 in Rio de Janeiro) is a former Brazilian soccer defender, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994. ... Paulo Sérgio full name Paulo Sérgio Silvestre do Nascimento (born 2 June 1969 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian footballer. ... Bernd Schuster (born December 22, 1959 in Augsburg) is a German football coach and former player. ... Rudi Völler (2004) Rudolf Rudi Völler (born April 13, 1960 in Hanau, Hessen, Germany) is a former German international football player, and a former manager of the German national team. ...

The club captured its next honours in 1993, with a 1-0 win in the German Cup over a surprising Hertha Berlin amateur squad. After a near disaster in 1996, when the club faced relegation, Bayer Leverkusen established itself as a powerful side, offering a technically pleasing offensive style of play under new coach Christoph Daum, who was also helped by the signing of players such as Lúcio, Emerson, Zé Roberto, and Michael Ballack. Daum was later to be famously fired for a cocaine scandal that also cost him his ascent to the role of the national team coach. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Hertha BSC Berlin is a German football club based in Berlin. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Christoph Daum (born October 24, 1953 in Zwickau) is a German football coach. ... For other Brazilian player named Lúcio , see: Lúcio Carlos Cajueiro Souza. ... Emerson Ferreira da Rosa, popularly known as Emerson (born April 4, 1976, in Pelotas, Brazil) is a Brazilian football (soccer) midfielder who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. ... Zé Roberto, real name José Roberto da Silva Júnior, (born July 6, 1974 in Ipiranga) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder. ... Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, East Germany) is a German football player. ... Cocaine (or crack in its impure freebase form) is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

The Almost Champions

The team earned a series of top four finishes from 1997 to 2002 that included four second place finshes. The finishes of 2000 and 2002 were heart-breaking for supporters as on both occasions the team had the Bundesliga title within its grasp. In 2000, Bayer Leverkusen needed only a draw against minnows Unterhaching to win the title, but an own goal by Ballack helped send the team to a crushing (0:2) defeat, while Bayern Munich clinched the title with a (3:1) victory over Werder Bremen. Two years later, Bayer Leverkusen surrendered a five point lead atop the league table by losing two of its last three matches while Borussia Dortmund swept ahead with three consecutive victories in its final matches. The 2002 season has been dubbed the "Treble Horror", as Bayer Leverkusen was also beaten in the German Cup final (2:4) by Schalke 04, and lost the UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid (1:2). Still, the team earned the honour as the first team ever to reach the UEFA Champions League final without winning a national championship before. They even had to qualify first for the participation in that year's UEFA Champions League. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Spielvereinigung Unterhaching are a German football (soccer) club, currently playing in the Zweite Bundesliga. ... Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, East Germany) is a German football player. ... FC Bayern Munich (German: FC Bayern München) is a German sports club based in Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria. ... Sportverein Werder Bremen is one of the major soccer clubs playing in the German Premier League, the Bundesliga. ... BV Borussia Dortmund is a German football first division club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. ... FC Schalke 04 is a German football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club best known for its football team which was ranked as The 20th Centurys Best Club by FIFA. The club, which went in place of the Spanish FA, was also one of the founding members of FIFA. They play...

Recent years

The club went through startling reversals of fortune in the next two seasons. In the 2002 offseason, Bayer Leverkusen lost midfield stars Michael Ballack, and Zé Roberto, to archrivals Bayern Munich. The team flirted with relegation through most of the 2002-03 season leading to the firing of Klaus Toppmöller, who had coached the team during its most successful years, and he was replaced by the inexperienced Thomas Hörster. Charismatic coach Klaus Augenthaler took up the reins in the last game of the season and helped avoid disaster with a win over his previous club Nürnberg. He then led Bayer Leverkusen to a third place finish the following year. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, East Germany) is a German football player. ... Zé Roberto, real name José Roberto da Silva Júnior, (born July 6, 1974 in Ipiranga, Brazil) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder. ... In most sports leagues around the world (with the North American professional leagues as the most important exception), relegation (or demotion) means the mandated transfer of the worst team(s) of a higher division into a lower division at the end of the season. ... Klaus Toppmöller Klaus Toppmöller (born 12 August 1951) is a former football player and the present coach of Georgias football team. ... Klaus Augenthaler is Coach of Bayer Leverkusen He is born 26. ... 1. ...

Early in 2005, Augenthaler was in turn fired as manager after Bayer Leverkusen got off to their worst Bundesliga start in over twenty years, with only one win in their first four league matches and a (0:1) home loss to CSKA Sofia in the first leg of their UEFA Cup match-up. Former German national team coach Rudi Völler was named as caretaker manager. Michael Skibbe, who was Rudi Völler's assistant coach at the national team, was named as his successor in October. Skibbe turned their season around and guided the club to a 5th place finish, earning a UEFA Cup place. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... PFC CSKA Sofia (Bulgarian: ) is the CSKA football club of Sofia, Bulgaria. ... The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). ... First international Switzerland 5 - 3 Germany (Basel, Switzerland; 5 April 1908) Germany 4-0 Switzerland (Stuttgart, Germany; 19 December 1990) Largest win Germany 16 - 0 Russia (Stockholm, Sweden; 1 July 1912) Worst defeat England 9 - 0 Germany (Oxford, England; 16 March 1909) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best... Rudi Völler (2004) Rudolf Rudi Völler (born April 13, 1960 in Hanau, Hessen, Germany) is a former German international football player, and a former manager of the German national team. ... A caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of team affairs of a football club. ... Michael Skibbe (born August 4, 1965) is a former German football (soccer) player and the current manager of the German club Bayer Leverkusen. ... The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams, organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). ...

Club culture

In contrast to many other German soccer clubs, which hold close ties to their proletarian roots, Bayer Leverkusen strives for a clean, family-friendly image. The BayArena has the reputation of being one of the most family-friendly soccer stadiums in Germany. The proletariat (from Latin proles, offspring) is a term used to identify a lower social class; a member of such a class is proletarian. ... The BayArena Leverkusen The BayArena is a football stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, which has been the home ground of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen since 1958. ...

Unfortunately, Bayer Leverkusen is perceived by some to have an ongoing image problem of a different sort. Although they are a financially healthy club with a stable of strong players, many fans of the old school clubs denounce Bayer Leverkusen as a "plastic club", without traditions or a committed fan base, existing solely as a creature of their rich pharmaceutical company sponsor. This is not unknown in football and other famous clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, Parma, or Sochaux share a similar reputation. Old school, variously spelled old skool, oldschool or oldskool, is a slang term referring to an older school of thinking or acting and to old objects in general, within the context of newer, more modern times. ... Philips Sport Vereniging (English: Philips Sports Union), widely known either as PSV or PSV Eindhoven, is a sports club from Eindhoven, the Netherlands. ... Parma Football Club (formerly Parma Associazione Calcio) is an Italian football club based in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, nicknamed the Crociati (Crusaders) and the Gialloblu (Yellow-Blues). ... FC Sochaux is a French football team, playing in the town of Montbéliard. ...

Honours

• German Cup: 1993
• UEFA Cup: 1988

• Bundesliga runners-up: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
• German Cup finalist: 2002
• UEFA Champions League finalist: 2002

Players

Current squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Hans-Jörg Butt 2 DF Fredrik Stenman 3 DF Roque Júnior 4 DF Juan 5 DF Karim Haggui 6 MF Simon Rolfes 7 MF Tranquillo Barnetta 9 FW Sergej Barbarez 10 MF Paul Freier 11 FW Stefan Kießling 12 FW Andriy Voronin 13 DF Athirson 14 FW Josip Tadić 16 MF Pirmin Schwegler

No. Position Player 17 DF Alexander Meyer 19 MF Marko Babić 20 GK Benedikt Fernandez 22 GK René Adler 23 DF Ahmed Reda Madouni 24 DF Assimiou Touré 25 MF Bernd Schneider 26 FW Michal Papadopulos 27 MF Gonzalo Castro 28 MF Carsten Ramelow 29 DF Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker 32 MF Pierre De Wit 44 DF Thomas Hübener

Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... A goalkeeper. ... Hans-Jörg Butt (born May 5, 1974 in Berlin, Germany) is a German goalkeeper for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Fredrik Stenman [freːdrɪk steːnmɑn] (born 2 June 1983 in Munktorp) is a Swedish football player who plays in Germany for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... José Vítor Roque Júnior (born August 31, 1976) is a Brazilian footballer who was part of the 2002 World Cup winning team. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Juan (*01. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Karim Haggui (born January 20, 1984) is a Tunisian football player who, as of 2004 was playing for RC Strasbourg. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Simon Rolfes Simon Rolfes is a professional soccer player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Tranquillo Barnetta (born 22 May 1985 in St. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Sergej Barbarez (born September 17, 1971 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a famous and popular Bosnian-Herzegovian football midfielder playing for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Paul Freier (born 26 July 1979 in Bytom) is a Polish-born German football (soccer) player who currently plays as a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Andriy Voronin (Ukrainian: , born July 21, 1979 in Odessa) is a Ukrainian footballer. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Athirson Mazzoli e Oliveira (born January 16, 1977) is a Brazilian football player (left back). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Josip Tadić (born August 22, 1987 in Osijek) is a Croatian football striker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Pirmin Schwegler (born March 9, 1987) is a Swiss football player who currently plays as midfielder for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Marko Babić (born January 28, 1981) is a Croatian football player who, as of 2005, is playing for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... A goalkeeper. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... A goalkeeper. ... René Adler (born January 15, 1985 in Leipzig) is a German footballer. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria_(bordered). ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Ahmed Reda Madouni (born 4 October 1980, in Casablanca, Morocco) is an Algerian soccer player for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Assimiou Touré (born 1 January 1988) in Germany, is a Togolese football defender, who currently, as of May 2006, plays for Bayer Leverkusen. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Bernd Schneider (born November 17, 1973 in Jena, Thuringia region) is a German football player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic_(bordered). ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Michal Papadopulos (born April 14, 1985 in Ostrava) is a Greek-Czech football player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Carsten Ramelow (born March 20, 1974 in Berlin) is a German international football player who has played for German Bundesliga power Bayer Leverkusen since 1995. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Midfielder is a position in football (soccer). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The Bolton player in white closest to the camera is a defender in this case, trying to prevent the Fulham forward in cyan from crossing the ball. ...

Bayer Leverkusen's "Squad of the Century"

On May 21, 2004, Bayer Leverkusen announced their "Bayer Leverkusen Squad of the Century". Over 4,000 fans participated in an Internet vote, choosing from a slate of 51 player candidates. May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Rüdiger Vollborn (Goalkeeper)
• Jorginho; Jens Nowotny; Lúcio; Juan (Defenders)
• Bernd Schneider; Michael Ballack; Emerson; Zé Roberto (Midfielders)
• Ulf Kirsten; Rudi Völler (Strikers)

Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Jorginho, real name Jorge de Amorim Campos, (born August 17, 1964 in Rio de Janeiro) is a former Brazilian soccer defender, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Jens Nowotny (born January 11, 1974 in Malsch) is a German football (soccer) player playing in the position of defender. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... For other Brazilian player named Lúcio , see: Lúcio Carlos Cajueiro Souza. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Juan (*01. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Bernd Schneider (born November 17, 1973 in Jena, Thuringia region) is a German football player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, East Germany) is a German football player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Emerson Ferreira da Rosa, popularly known as Emerson (born April 4, 1976, in Pelotas, Brazil) is a Brazilian football (soccer) midfielder who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Zé Roberto, real name José Roberto da Silva Júnior, (born July 6, 1974 in Ipiranga) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Ulf Kirsten (born December 4, 1965 in Riesa, East Germany) is a former German football (soccer) striker, the first player in history to reach a total 100 caps playing with two different national teams. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Rudi Völler (2004) Rudolf Rudi Völler (born April 13, 1960 in Hanau, Hessen, Germany) is a former German international football player, and a former manager of the German national team. ...

Famous Players

Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Yıldıray Baştürk (born December 24, 1978 in Herne) is a German-born Turkish footballer. ...

Famous Coaches

• Klaus Augenthaler
• Christoph Daum
• Rinus Michels
• Erich Ribbeck
• Dragoslav Stepanović
• Klaus Toppmöller
• Berti Vogts

Klaus Augenthaler is Coach of Bayer Leverkusen He is born 26. ... Christoph Daum (born October 24, 1953 in Zwickau) is a German football coach. ... Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Rinus Michels (born February 9, 1928) is a Dutch football coach. ... Erich Sir Erich Ribbeck (Born June 13, 1937 in Wuppertal,North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) is a soccer manager. ... Dragoslav Stepanović (born in Rekovac, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), 30 August 1948) was a professional footballer. ... Klaus Toppmöller Klaus Toppmöller (born 12 August 1951) is a former football player and the present coach of Georgias football team. ... Berti Vogts (6. ...

External links

• Official team site (in German)
• Official team site (in English)
• The Abseits Guide to German Soccer
• Werkself fanpage --- Bayer Leverkusen's unofficial forum, very popular, and even frequented by ex-players, including "Der Rudi", former goalkeeper Rüdiger Vollborn.
• Supporters of Leverkusen
• Fantalk
• Bayerfans04 fanpage
• Internet Initiative Leverkusen fanpage
• Polish fanpage
• Leverkusen statistics
• Bayer Leverkusen formations at football-lineups