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{{Short description|German association football club}}
{{Redirect|Bayer Leverkusen|the women's football club|Bayer 04 Leverkusen (women)|the women's handball club|TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (handball)|the basketball team|Bayer Giants Leverkusen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Bayer Leverkusen
| fullname = Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
| image = Bayer 04 Leverkusen logo.svg
| image_size = 240px
| nickname = ''Die Werkself'' (The Factory XI)<ref name="The German soccer dictionary">{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/german-soccer-dictionary-meaning-definition-translation-term-phrase-2773-1262 |title=The German soccer dictionary: Meanings, definitions, translations... |website=bundesliga.com |publisher=[[Deutsche Fußball Liga]] |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref><br>''Die Schwarzroten'' (The Black and Reds)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/stories-the-black-and-reds-are-born |title=Stories: The Black and Reds are born  |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref>
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1904|7|1}}
| ground = [[BayArena]]<ref name="BayArena">{{cite web |url=http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-Neverkusen/stadion.php |title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen&nbsp;– BayArena |website=bundesliga.com |publisher=Deutsche Fußball Liga |access-date=9 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426113726/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-leverkusen/stadion.php |archive-date=26 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| capacity = 30,210<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/bayarena#facts |title=The BayArena – our stadium |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref>
| owner = [[Bayer|Bayer AG]]<ref name="Management staff">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/Data/Document/D-PDF-EF6AC35A-2013-11-01_Organigramm_Gesamt_englisch.pdf |title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Our lineup 2013/14 |work=Bayer Leverkusen |date=November 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=15 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015032240/http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/Data/Document/D-PDF-EF6AC35A-2013-11-01_Organigramm_Gesamt_englisch.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| chairman = [[Fernando Carro (businessman)|Fernando Carro]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/about-us/organisation/fernando-carro |title=Fernando Carro de Prada – CEO |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |access-date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=8 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408101705/https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/about-us/organisation/fernando-carro |url-status=live }}</ref>
| mgrtitle = Sporting director
| manager = [[Simon Rolfes]]<ref name="Management staff" />
| coach = [[Kasper Hjulmand]]
| league = {{German football updater|BaLeverk}}
| season = {{German football updater|BaLeverk2}}
| position = {{German football updater|BaLeverk3}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.bayer04.de/en-us|bayer04.de}}
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| current = 2025–26 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season
}}

'''Bayer 04 Leverkusen''', officially known as '''Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH''' ({{IPA|de|ˌbaɪ̯ɐ ˈleːvɐˌkuːzn̩|lang}}) and commonly known as '''Bayer Leverkusen''' or simply '''Leverkusen''', is a German professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Leverkusen]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports&nbsp;– moving moments |url=http://www.nrwinvest.com/NRW_at_a_glance/Facts_Figures/Sports/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015161207/http://www.nrwinvest.com/NRW_at_a_glance/Facts_Figures/Sports/index.php |archive-date=15 October 2014 |access-date=9 October 2014 |work=NRW Invest}}</ref> It competes in the [[Bundesliga]], the top tier of [[German football league system|German football]], and plays its home matches at the [[BayArena]].<ref name="BayArena" /><ref name="Club Data">{{cite web |url=http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-leverkusen/daten.php |title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen&nbsp;– Club Data |website=bundesliga.com |publisher=Deutsche Fußball Liga |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013103620/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-leverkusen/daten.php |archive-date=13 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Founded in 1904 by employees of the paint factory, today better known as a pharmaceutical company [[Bayer]] (whose headquarters are in Leverkusen and from which the club draws its name), the club was formerly a department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen [[sports club]] whose members participate in athletics, gymnastics, [[Bayer Giants Leverkusen|basketball]], field and handball. In 1999, the football department was separated from the sports club.<ref name="Club Data" /> Bayer Leverkusen's main colours are red and black, which feature across their playing kits and badge, and their main rival is [[1. FC Köln]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-5267 |title=FC Köln derby a Saturday fixture |work=Bayer Leverkusen |date=25 September 2014 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228144836/https://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-5267 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the fans have a deep friendship with the supporters of [[Kickers Offenbach]] for almost 50 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=#BayerundderOFC – Friendly for a good cause |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/bayerundderofc-friendly-for-a-good-cause |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH |language=en}}</ref>

Bayer Leverkusen were promoted to the Bundesliga in [[1978–79 2. Bundesliga|1979]] and won their maiden top-flight honor, the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], in [[1987–88 UEFA Cup|1988]]. The club won its first domestic honour, the [[DFB Pokal]], in [[1992–93 DFB-Pokal|1993]]. The club finished runners-up across three competitions in 2002, including the [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]. After over 30 years without silverware, the club won their [[2023–24 Bundesliga|first Bundesliga title]] and their second [[2023–24 DFB-Pokal|DFB Pokal]] in 2024,<ref name="BL2324">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-are-2023-24-bundesliga-champions-26930 |title=Bayer Leverkusen are 2023/24 Bundesliga champions! |website=bundesliga.com |publisher=Deutsche Fußball Liga |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=14 April 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=14 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414175118/https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-are-2023-24-bundesliga-champions-26930}}</ref><ref name="Bayer 04 Honours">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |title=Bayer 04 Honours |work=Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150152/http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming the first German team to win the league or [[Double (association football)|domestic double]] [[List of unbeaten football club seasons#Europe|unbeaten]], while setting the [[European association football club records and statistics#Longest unbeaten run across all competitions|European record for consecutive unbeaten competitive games]] (51).

==History==
===Origins and early years===
On 27 November 1903, Wilhelm Hauschild wrote a letter&nbsp;– signed by 180 of his fellow workers&nbsp;– to his employer, the [[Bayer|Friedrich Bayer and Co.]], seeking the company's support in starting a sports club.<ref name="Early years">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/1282.aspx?guid=1282-AAE73455-851F-436A-9709-1746E89C1C26 |title=The Early Years&nbsp;– It all Started with a Letter |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014162018/http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/1282.aspx?guid=1282-AAE73455-851F-436A-9709-1746E89C1C26 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company agreed to support the initiative, and on 1 July 1904 ''Turn- und Spielverein Bayer 04 Leverkusen'' was founded as a [[works team]].<ref name="Early years" /> On 31 May 1907, a separate football department was formed within the club.<ref name="Early years" /> 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 8 June 1928, the footballers formed a separate association&nbsp;– ''Sportvereinigung Bayer 04 Leverkusen''&nbsp;– that also included the [[handball]] and [[fistball]] players, athletics, and [[boxing]], while the gymnasts carried on as ''TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1920s |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/history/founding-years-to-the-new-millennium/1920s |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH |language=en}}</ref> ''SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen'' took with them the club's traditional colours of red and black, with the gymnasts adopting blue and yellow after a while. Until 1930, Wiesdorf was the hometown of Bayer 04, and Leverkusen was merely the district where the factories and workers' housing were located. In 1930, Wiesdorf and the neighboring municipalities merged to form a new town. They named it Leverkusen because of the factory's importance, among other things, for the community's growth. Thus, the club now bore the name of its city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1930s |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/history/founding-years-to-the-new-millennium/1930s |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Bayer Leverkusen Performance Chart.png|upright=2.0|thumb|Historical chart of Bayer Leverkusen league performance after WWII]]

Through this period, and into the 1930s, SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen played third and fourth division football.<ref name="Bayer emblem" /> In 1936, they earned promotion to the second highest class of play of the period.<ref name="Bayer emblem">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/1283.aspx?guid=1283-687E6C91-5980-405A-B82C-E1DFBCE4C5F7 |title=The Thirties&nbsp;– The Bayer Emblem on the Shirt |work=Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014162232/http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/1283.aspx?guid=1283-687E6C91-5980-405A-B82C-E1DFBCE4C5F7 |url-status=live }}</ref> That was also the year that the club wore the "'''''Bayer'''''" cross, still visible on their kits, for the first time.<ref name="Bayer emblem" /> They made their first appearance in upper league play in 1951, in the [[Oberliga West (1947–63)|Oberliga West]] and played there until 1956, after which they were relegated.
[[File:StadionAmStadtpark.jpg|350px|thumb|right|A freekick in the old stadium  ''Stadtpark'' against SV Sodingen in 1955]]

''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 (1963–74)|Regionalliga West]], tier II.

===2. Bundesliga to Bundesliga, UEFA Cup, and DFB-Pokal===
After not having been among the top teams in the second-tier Regionalliga SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen made something of a breakthrough in 1968 by sensationally winning the division title (with only 15 men in the squad), but was unable to advance to the playoff round to the first division. The club was 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 club secured a place in the Bundesliga to start to play there in the [[1979–80 Bundesliga|1979–80 season.]]

By the mid-1980s, SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen had become established in the upper half of the league table and was 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 a half century earlier were re-united as '''TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V.''' The new club took red and white as its colours. Although the football department officially retained the colors black and red, the "Werkself" played in red and white for the next ten years.

In addition to becoming an established Bundesliga side, the club earned its first honours with a win in the [[1987–88 UEFA Cup|1988 UEFA Cup]]. Down 0–3 to [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] after the first leg of the final, Bayer Leverkusen drew even in the return match and then won the title on penalty kicks, 3–2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1987/overview/index.html |title=1987/88: Resurgent Leverkusen hold their nerve |publisher=UEFA |date=1 June 1988 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407124031/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1987/overview/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Leverkusen UEFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50109--leverkusen/ |title=Leverkusen |publisher=UEFA |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019040241/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=50109/profile/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

That same year, long-time Bayer Leverkusen executive Reiner Calmund became the general manager of the club. The decade and a half following this saw club's greatest successes.

After the [[German reunification]] in 1990, Reiner Calmund was quick to sign prominent [[East Germany|East German]] players [[Ulf Kirsten]] and [[Andreas Thom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990-1991 |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/page/history/seasons/1990-1991 |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH |language=en}}</ref> After they were able to sign [[Matthias Sammer]], who later became a world footballer, Chancellor [[Helmut Kohl]] vetoed the deal.<ref>{{Cite web  |title=Ausverkauf des DDR-Fußballs?: Wie Reiner Calmund Andreas Thom in den Westen lockte |url=https://www.mz.de/sport/fussball/ausverkauf-des-ddr-fussballs-wie-reiner-calmund-andreas-thom-in-den-westen-lockte-3137789 |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>

Calmund also established contacts in [[Football in Brazil|Brazilian football]], befriending Juan Figer, one of Brazil's most powerful [[Sports agent#Association football|player agents]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} Over the next few{{quantify|date=January 2024}} years, budding superstars,{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} such as [[Jorginho (footballer, born 1964)|Jorginho]] and [[Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born June 1969)|Paulo Sérgio]], joined the team. The club also signed famous older german successful players, such as [[Bernd Schuster]], and [[Rudi Völler]], helping to ensure the team's popularity{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} and growing success.

The club won its next major honour in 1993 with a 1–0 win in the [[DFB-Pokal]] final against [[Hertha BSC]] second team (amateur squad) on 12 June 1993.<ref name="Leverkusen UEFA" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/dfb/1993/ |title=DFB Cup 1992/1993 |work=Fussball Daten |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026013603/http://www.fussballdaten.de/dfb/1993/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the following season, in a game in which Schuster scored a 45 m "German Goal of the Year"
(a goal which was later also named "Goal of the Decade").
{{Commons|Bayer 04 Leverkusen kits}}

After the club had almost been relegated in 1996 they regularly found themselves among the top three of the league under new coach [[Christoph Daum]]. In the next years they sign players such as [[Lúcio]], [[Emerson (footballer, born 1976)|Emerson]], [[Zé Roberto]] and [[Michael Ballack]]. Daum was later fired for a [[cocaine]] scandal that also cost him his ascent to the role of the [[Germany national football team|Germany national team]] coach.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=was he Germany national team coach? or was he about to be appointed Germany national team coach? or is all this speculative?}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2010/11/19/2220135/germany-unity-series-from-messiah-to-judas-christoph-daum |title=Germany Unity Series: From Messiah To Judas&nbsp;– Christoph Daum and the Cocaine Scandal |work=Goal (website) |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=4 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004102057/http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2010/11/19/2220135/germany-unity-series-from-messiah-to-judas-christoph-daum |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/20/seven-deadly-sins-football-gluttony-part-two |title=Gluttony&nbsp;– part two |work=The Guardian |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020062634/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/20/seven-deadly-sins-football-gluttony-part-two |url-status=live }}</ref>

==="Neverkusen"===
[[File:Ulf Kirsten.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Ulf Kirsten]], three-time Bundesliga top scorer]]
Leverkusen earned a series of four second-place finishes from 1997 to 2002. Most notably, the team had the Bundesliga title within their grasp in 2000 and 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Robert |date=30 September 2021 |title=The horror treble: remembering the worst collapse in European football |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/horror-treble-remembering-worst-collapse-european-football |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=fourfourtwo.com |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224172807/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/horror-treble-remembering-worst-collapse-european-football |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000, Leverkusen needed only a draw against [[SpVgg Unterhaching]] to win the title, but an own goal by Michael Ballack helped send the team to a heart-wrenching 2–0 defeat, while [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] won the title with a 3–1 victory over [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]. Two years later, the club surrendered a five-point lead atop the league table by losing two of its last three matches, while [[Borussia Dortmund]] swept ahead{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} with three consecutive victories in its final matches. The 2002 season has been dubbed{{by whom|date=January 2024}} the "Treble Horror", as Leverkusen were also beaten 4–2 in the [[2002 DFB-Pokal final|DFB-Pokal final]] by [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]] and lost the [[2002 UEFA Champions League final|UEFA Champions League final]] 2–1 to [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], which also led to some of the English-language media dubbing them "[[Neverkusen]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/slideshow/3742/1/10-end-of-season-collapses |title=10 end-of-season collapses |work=Goal (website) |date=1 June 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222083502/http://www.goal.com/en/slideshow/3742/1/10-end-of-season-collapses |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/germany_v_brazil/newsid_2069000/2069502.stm |title='Neverkusen' ghost haunts final |date=28 June 2002 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=29 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329222225/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/germany_v_brazil/newsid_2069000/2069502.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6693658/Bayer-Leverkusen-closing-in-on-first-their-Bundsliga-title-to-end-Neverkusen-jibes.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/6693658/Bayer-Leverkusen-closing-in-on-first-their-Bundsliga-title-to-end-Neverkusen-jibes.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Bayer Leverkusen closing in on first their Bundesliga title to end 'Neverkusen' jibes |work=The Telegraph |date=30 November 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Leverkusen was the first team to reach the final of the Champions League without ever having won a national championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbox.com/blog/bayer-leverkusen-team-profile/ |title=Bayer Leverkusen Team Profile of the 'Almost Champions' |work=Soccer Box |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026234247/https://www.soccerbox.com/blog/bayer-leverkusen-team-profile |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, five members of the Bayer Leverkusen team were also members of the Germany national team which lost the [[2002 FIFA World Cup final|final of the World Cup of 2002]].

===Subsequent years===
[[File:Koeln Bayer Leverkusen.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Leverkusen against rivals [[1. FC Köln|Köln]] in the [[Bundesliga]] in 2012]]
In the 2002 off-season, the team sold midfielders Michael Ballack and Zé Roberto to Bayern Munich. [[Klaus Toppmöller]], who had coached the team during its most successful year, was replaced by Thomas Hörster.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} [[Klaus Augenthaler]] managed the last two games of the season with a win over his previous club, [[1. FC Nürnberg]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Bayer Leverkusen finished at a third-place finish and a Champions League place the following year.

That following season's run in the [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] saw the club open its group stage campaign with a 3–0 win against [[Real Madrid]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/sep/16/match.sport2 |title=Real humbled by Leverkusen |work=The Guardian |date=16 September 2004 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021024954/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/sep/16/match.sport2 |url-status=live }}</ref> a result which helped Leverkusen to win the group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2004/matches/round=1968/match=1077227/postmatch/report/index.html |title=Leverkusen dismantle Dynamo |publisher=UEFA |date=9 December 2004 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=21 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221113751/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2004/matches/round=1968/match=1077227/postmatch/report/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Leverkusen, however, was defeated in the first knockout round by eventual champions [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/mar/09/minutebyminute.sport1 |title=Leverkusen 1&nbsp;– 3 Liverpool (Aggregate: 2&nbsp;– 6) |work=The Guardian |date=8 March 2005 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019050501/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/mar/09/minutebyminute.sport1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2004/overview/index.html |title=2004/05: Liverpool belief defies Milan |publisher=UEFA |date=25 May 2005 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710004846/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2004/overview/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The club finished sixth during the [[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05 season]] to qualify for the [[2005–06 UEFA Cup|next season's UEFA Cup]].

Early in 2005, Augenthaler was fired as manager after the club got off{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} to its worst Bundesliga start in over 20 years, with only one win in its first four league matches and a 0–1 home loss to [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]] in the first leg of its UEFA Cup match-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/81805--cska-sofia-vs-leverkusen/ |title=CSKA Sofia 1–0 Leverkusen |publisher=UEFA |date=29 September 2005 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=21 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221113753/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2005/matches/round=2208/match=81805/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Former Germany national team manager Rudi Völler, who had been named sporting director prior to the season, took charge of five matches as [[caretaker manager]].{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='manager' appears twice in this sentence.}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history-of-soccer.org/rudi-voller.html |title=Rudi Völler Biography |work=History of Soccer |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015225427/http://www.history-of-soccer.org/rudi-voller.html |archive-date=15 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="New Millennium">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |title=The New Millennium&nbsp;– Knocking on Europe's Door |work=Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150152/http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Michael Skibbe]], who was Völler's assistant coach with the national team, was named as his successor in October 2005.<ref name="New Millennium" /> Skibbe turned Leverkusen's season around,{{tone inline|date=January 2024}}{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=no explanation for what happened before that, requiring the season to be 'turned around'?}} and guided the club to a sixth-place finish in [[2005–06 Bundesliga|2006]], earning another [[2006–07 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] place, and then repeated that feat with a fifth place [[2006–07 Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] finish in 2007.<ref name="New Millennium" />

The [[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08 season]] was not a successful one for Leverkusen despite a good start to the season; five out of the last ten league matches were lost to clubs in the lower half of the table.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Michael Skibbe was heavily criticised{{by whom|date=January 2024}} towards the end of the season after he continuously changed his starting line up.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Bayer Leverkusen also lost a lot{{quantify|date=January 2024}} of its support towards the end of the season: in the 1–2 home loss against Hertha BSC, the Leverkusen fans caused much commotion, with fans chanting for the sacking of Skibbe, while some Ultras, who had seen enough,{{vague|date=January 2024}} set fire to their jerseys and threw them onto the field. Michael Skibbe was sacked soon thereafter, leaving the club on 21 May 2008, with club officials stating that his departure was due to the team not qualifying for the following season's [[2008–09 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] group stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2008/m=5/news=leverkusen-sack-coach-skibbe-773312.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017003330/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2008/m=5/news=leverkusen-sack-coach-skibbe-773312.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2014 |title=Leverkusen sack coach Skibbe |publisher=FIFA |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=9 October 2014 }}</ref>

The [[2008–09 Bundesliga|2008–09 season]] got off to a great start{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} for Bayer Leverkusen under new manager [[Bruno Labbadia]], who the club had acquired from 2. Bundesliga club [[SpVgg Greuther Fürth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/539110/labbadia-heuert-als-neuer-trainer-in-leverkusen-an |title=Labbadia heuert als neuer Trainer in Leverkusen an |work=ESPNFC |date=25 May 2008 |access-date=11 October 2014 |language=de |archive-date=15 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015184047/http://www.espnfc.com/story/539110/labbadia-heuert-als-neuer-trainer-in-leverkusen-an |url-status=live }}</ref> As the season progressed, however, the team secured no wins against top{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=what is a 'top' club? is Bayer Leverkusen not a 'top' club? who decides what a 'top' club is?}} clubs in the Bundesliga. However, Leverkusen reached the [[2009 DFB-Pokal final|DFB-Pokal final]] on 30 May 2009 in [[Berlin]], but lost the game 0–1 to Werder Bremen.<ref name="New Millennium" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/dfbpokal/spielrunde/spielpaarungsbericht/object/865823/liga/102/saison/2008-09/spieltag/6/naviindex/1 |title=Werders Triumph dank Özil |work=kicker |date=30 May 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014 |language=de |archive-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602043810/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/dfbpokal/spielrunde/spielpaarungsbericht/object/865823/liga/102/saison/2008-09/spieltag/6/naviindex/1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Leverkusen finished the season in ninth place in the Bundesliga table and Labbadia moved to [[Hamburger SV]] in June 2009.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=did he decide to leave? or did Leverkusen decide?}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2009/m=6/news=labbadia-seeks-continuity-for-hamburg-1067883.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017003327/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2009/m=6/news=labbadia-seeks-continuity-for-hamburg-1067883.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2014 |title=Labbadia seeks continuity for Hamburg |publisher=FIFA |date=7 June 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014 }}</ref> Shortly thereafter,{{when|date=January 2024}} Leverkusen presented [[Jupp Heynckes]], who had previously managed Bayern Munich after [[Jürgen Klinsmann]]'s departure, as its new manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/wird-trainer-von-bayer-leverkusen-8602128.bild.html |title=Heynckes in Leverkusen vorgestellt |work=Bild |date=6 June 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014 |language=de |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134738/http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/wird-trainer-von-bayer-leverkusen-8602128.bild.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2010–11 Bundesliga|2010–11]] season, Bayer Leverkusen finished as runner-up, thus qualifying for the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] for the first time since [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League|2005]]. However, Heynckes decided not to extend his contract and left Bayer Leverkusen in the 2011 close season to take over at Bayern Munich for a third time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9431642.stm|title=Coach Jupp Heynckes to leave Bundesliga side Leverkusen|date=21 March 2011|access-date=1 June 2013|publisher=BBC|archive-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924075536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9431642.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2012–13 Bundesliga|2012–13]] and [[2015–16 Bundesliga|2015–16]] seasons, Leverkusen finished third with coach [[Sami Hyypiä]] and [[Roger Schmidt (football manager)|Roger Schmidt]] respectively, but were knocked out in the round of 16 of the Champions League the following season both times. In the [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League]], Leverkusen reached the quarter-finals for the first time since [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|2008]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/europa-league/our-next-opponents-star-studded-squad-assembled |title=Our next opponents: Star-studded squad assembled |website=bayer04.de |date=7 August 2020 |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927075128/https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/europa-league/our-next-opponents-star-studded-squad-assembled |url-status=live }}</ref> but were ultimately{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=is ultimate not the end? so 'knocked out'?}} knocked out by [[Inter Milan]] in a 2–1 loss.

===From Neverkusen to "Neverlusen": Xabi Alonso's unbeaten run===
[[File:Meisterschaft2024.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Celebration after the first win of the German Championship in 2024]]
In October 2022, with the club in the relegation zone, Leverkusen appointed [[Xabi Alonso]] as head coach in his first senior managerial role; he went on to guide the team to safety and a sixth-placed finish.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 2022 |title=Xabi Alonso handed Bayer Leverkusen manager role after Seoane sacking |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/05/xabi-alonso-lands-bayer-leverkusen-manager-role-after-seoane-sacking |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614003911/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/05/xabi-alonso-lands-bayer-leverkusen-manager-role-after-seoane-sacking |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[2023–24 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2023–24]], Alonso's first full season in charge, Leverkusen achieved significant domestic and European milestones, bolstered by effective squad building and strategic signings including [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] captain [[Granit Xhaka]], [[Victor Boniface]], [[Jonas Hofmann]], [[Álex Grimaldo|Alejandro Grimaldo]], and [[Matej Kovar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2023 |title=From 'Neverkusen' to Bundesliga title contenders: Inside Xabi Alonso's success at Bayer Leverkusen |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/39015175/how-xabi-alonso-made-bayer-leverkusen-bundesliga-contenders |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129195958/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/39015175/how-xabi-alonso-made-bayer-leverkusen-bundesliga-contenders |url-status=live }}</ref> By early 2024, they had set a new club record for the longest unbeaten start to a season followed by breaking the Bundesliga record (formerly held by [[Hamburger SV]] since the 1982–83 season) for the longest unbeaten run by a club in all competitions with 26 games unbeaten<ref>{{citation |access-date=2023-12-21 |date=20 December 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |periodical=Der Spiegel |title=Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen bricht 41 Saisons alten Startrekord, Bayern halten Schritt |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga-bayer-leverkusen-bricht-41-saisons-alten-startrekord-bayern-halten-schritt-a-582ee506-64b2-4107-a297-b52bbde1d65b}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> followed by breaking the European record of the European "top 5 leagues" ([[Bundesliga]], [[Premier League]], [[La Liga|Primera División]], [[Ligue 1]], [[Serie A]]) set by [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in 2011 and 2012 of 43 cross-competitive compulsory games in a row without defeat.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-19 |language=de |title=Zahlen, Daten und Fakten: Xabi Alonso bei Leverkusen |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/de/bundesliga/news/bayer-04-leverkusen-xabi-alonso-trainer-zahlen-daten-fakten-26363 |website=bundesliga.com}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-19 |language=de |title=Frimpong beschert Leverkusen das Halbfinale - und einen neuen Rekord |url=https://www.kicker.de/west-ham-gegen-leverkusen-2024-europa-league-4913607/analyse |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> On 14 April 2024, Leverkusen were crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time ever after beating [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] 5–0, ending [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]'s run of 11 successive league titles.<ref name="BL2324"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Werkself champions of Germany with five-star victory |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bundesliga/werkself-champions-of-germany-with-five-star-victory |access-date=15 April 2024|date=15 April 2024 |website=Bayer04.de|publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH}}</ref> This was the club's first trophy since winning the [[1992–93 DFB-Pokal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=No more Neverkusen as Bayer Leverkusen win Bundesliga title at last |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/no-more-neverkusen-bayer-leverkusen-181325604.html |access-date=15 April 2024|date=14 April 2024 |via=Sports.Yahoo.com|publisher=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]]}}</ref> On 9 May 2024, Leverkusen set a new record for [[European association football club records and statistics#Longest unbeaten run across all competitions|the longest run of matches without a loss]] in European football history (since the introduction of UEFA club competitions) following a 2–2 draw against [[AS Roma|Roma]] in the Europa League; they broke the previous record of 48 set by [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] between 1963 and 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68980160 |title=Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Roma (4-2 on agg): Germans maintain unbeaten record and reach Europa League final |first=Emma |last=Smith|work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fußball - Längste Serie von ungeschlagenen Pflichtspielen in Europa |trans-title=Football - Longest streak of unbeaten competitive matches in Europe |url=https://www.n-tv.de/infografik/Fussball-Laengste-Serie-von-ungeschlagenen-Pflichtspielen-in-Europa-article24880768.html |access-date=9 May 2024|date=17 April 2024 |website=[[N-tv]].de |language=de}}</ref> Leverkusen then finished the league season unbeaten, the first club in the Bundesliga to do so.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-record-unbeaten-run-xabi-alonso-26289|date=18 May 2024|title=Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen become first Bundesliga team to go unbeaten throughout a season |website=bundesliga.com|publisher=Deutsche Fußball Liga|access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Garrick |first=Omar |date=18 May 2024 |title=Leverkusen become first team to go unbeaten in Bundesliga. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5503124/2024/05/18/bayer-leverkusen-undefeated-bundesliga/ |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Their unbeaten streak ended in their 52nd game of the season with a hat trick by [[Ademola Lookman]] giving them a 3–0 loss to [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]] in the [[2024 UEFA Europa League Final|Europa League final]].<ref name="EL24">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/europa-league-final-leverkusen-atalanta-score-lookman-849e6ce934043b825265d92ae0f30843 |title=Europa League final: Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten run ended 3-0 by Atalanta |first=Graham |last=Dunbar |work=AP News |date=22 May 2024 |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://iffhs.com/posts/3638 |title=Bayer Leverkusen's Great Run ! |publisher=IFFHS |date=24 May 2024 |access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref> They won the [[2024 DFB-Pokal final]] by beating [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] to win the domestic [[Double (association football)|double]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cerr9ymgp40t|title=Kaiserslautern 0–1 Bayer Leverkusen |date=25 May 2024|access-date=25 May 2024|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

At the start of the [[2024-25 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|new season]] on 17 August 2024, the team won the [[2024 DFL-Supercup|DFL-Supercup]] for the first time ever beating [[VfB Stuttgart]] after penalties. However, their domestic unbeaten streak ended on 31 August 2024 after a 3–2 defeat to [[RB Leipzig]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm2n4xyyr2et|title=Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 RB Leipzig: Champions' 35-match unbeaten Bundesliga run ends|website=BBC Sport}}</ref> This led to a less successful season for Leverkusen as the club relinquished the [[2024-25 Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] title back to Bayern Munich who also beat them 5–0 on aggregate in the round of 16 of the [[2024-25 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]]. Leverkusen also lost in the semi-finals of the [[2024-25 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]] to third-tier side [[Arminia Bielefeld]] leaving them with the DFL-Supercup as their only trophy of the season. Xabi Alonso departed the club at the end of the season to replace [[Carlo Ancelotti]] as manager of [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2025 |title=Xabi Alonso named new Real Madrid coach |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/latest-news/perfil-xabi-alonso-25-05-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527194037/https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/latest-news/perfil-xabi-alonso-25-05-2025 |archive-date=27 May 2025 |access-date=25 May 2025 |website= |publisher=Real Madrid CF}}</ref>

===Post-Alonso era (2025-present)===

On 26 May 2025, Leverkusen announced former [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] manager [[Erik ten Hag]] would replace Alonso as head coach, with Ten Hag starting his job on 1 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2025 |title=Erik ten Hag is new Bayer 04 head coach |url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/erik-ten-hag-is-new-bayer-04-head-coach |access-date=26 May 2025 |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen}}</ref> Later that year, on 1 September, Ten Hag was sacked after only two league matches.<ref>{{cite web |last=Church |first=Ben |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/02/sport/soccer-bundesliga-erik-ten-hag-fired-intl |title=‘Complete surprise’: Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag fired after just 3 games in charge of German club |publisher=CNN |date=2 September 2025 }}</ref> Kasper Hjulmand was named as his replacement on 8 September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Kasper Hjulmand: Bayer Leverkusen appoint new manager to replace Erik ten Hag |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy7pk6r5y33o |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Logo history==
<gallery perrow="9">
File:Logo FV Leverkusen (1923-1928).png|1923–1928
File:Logo Bayer Leverkusen (1928-1938).gif|1928–1938
File:Logo Bayer Leverkusen (1948-1965).gif|1948–1965
File:Logo Bayer Leverkusen (1965-1970).gif|1965–1970
File:Logo Bayer Leverkusen (1970-1976).gif|1970–1976
File:Logo Bayer Leverkusen (1976-1984).svg|1976–1984
File:Logo TSV Bayer Leverkusen (1984-1990).svg|1984–1990
File:Logo TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.svg|alt=Still the TSV Bayer 04's logo|1990–1996
File:Bayer_04_Leverkusen_logo.svg|Since 1996
</gallery>

==Club culture==
[[File:Bayarena Leverkusen 2020.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[BayArena]], the stadium of Bayer Leverkusen]]
The 50+1 rule in German football states that a club must hold at least 50 percent of the voting rights plus one vote in its spun-off corporation in order to maintain control. The goal is to limit the influence of external investors and protect the club's structure. However, there are two exceptions: Leverkusen and [[VfL Wolfsburg]]. Because these clubs were founded as works clubs and the corresponding companies supported the club financially, among other things, for many decades, the football department of Bayer 04 was spun off from the overall club in 1999 and has been a subsidiary of Bayer AG ever since. This allows to offset financial losses at the end of a fiscal year, but also requires profits to be transferred.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explaining the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/50-1-fifty-plus-one-german-football-soccer-rule-explained-ownership-22832 |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=www.bundesliga.com |language=en}}</ref>

However, a ruling by the Federal Cartel Office from 2025 identifies a need for improvements regarding the exemptions. Therefore, it can be assumed that the German Football League (DFL) will demand more say for the parent club TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V. in the future, or that members will have to be more closely involved in other ways.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bundeskartellamt sees need for improvement in 50+1 rule |url=https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/EN/Pressemitteilungen/2025/06_16_2025_50plus1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620075138/https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/EN/Pressemitteilungen/2025/06_16_2025_50plus1.html |archive-date=20 June 2025 |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=Bundeskartellamt |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bayer 04 was the first Bundesliga club whose fans identified themselves as ''[[Ultras]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultras-leverkusen.de/ |title=Ultra culture of the city colors |work=Ultras Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224203355/http://www.ultras-leverkusen.de/ |archive-date=24 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Even though the club was founded at the beginning of the 20th century on the initiative of the employees and even aldo had roots as a works club in the socialist-influenced workers' sports movement (the workers' sports club Germania Wiesdorf [unique example of a socialist workers sports club that was supported by a factory] was absorbed into TUS Bayer 04 after being banned by the National Socialists),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historie |url=https://www.tsvbayer04.de/mein-tsv-verein/historie/ |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V. |language=de}}</ref> many fans of other clubs criticise Bayer Leverkusen as being a "plastic club", existing solely as a creation of their rich pharmaceutical company sponsor&nbsp;– [[Bayer AG]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/champions-league-scouting-report-bayer-2277876 |title=Champions League scouting report: Bayer Leverkusen can cause Manchester United problems on the break |work=Mirror |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029201410/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/champions-league-scouting-report-bayer-2277876 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-germany-idUKBRE99G0JA20131017 |title=Germany's forgotten team want to be noticed |work=Reuters |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306101930/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-germany-idUKBRE99G0JA20131017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result, the club and their fans have started to emphasize their industrial origins with pride, calling themselves "Werkself" (Eng. "Company Eleven", "Factory team", "Millhanders") or "Pillendreher" (Eng. "[[Tablet (pharmacy)|Tablet]] twisters").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-5263 |title=Werkself secure 1–0 win against Augsburg |work=Bayer Leverkusen |date=24 September 2014 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014144421/http://www.bayer04.de/B04-ENG/en/_md_aktuell-dt.aspx?aktuell=aktuell-5263 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.werkself.de/ |title=Portal&nbsp;– Werkself.de fan forum |work=Werkself |access-date=9 October 2014 |language=de |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014111207/http://www.werkself.de/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bayer Leverkusen's corporate origins, however, are far from unique. Other clubs, including [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]], [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena]], [[Arsenal F.C.]], [[West Ham United F.C.]] and [[Stade de Reims]] also founded as [[works team]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-economic-plight-throws-spanner-in-the-works-as-gary-lineker-joins-a-football-team-owned-by-toyota-jasper-rees-looks-at-factory-clubs-at-home-and-abroad-1474281.html |title=Football: Economic plight throws spanner in the works |work=The Independent |date=21 February 1993 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028034518/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-economic-plight-throws-spanner-in-the-works-as-gary-lineker-joins-a-football-team-owned-by-toyota-jasper-rees-looks-at-factory-clubs-at-home-and-abroad-1474281.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/09/wallabies-red-bull-sport-sponsorship |title=Sport sponsorship has gone too far |work=The Guardian |date=9 July 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020062524/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/09/wallabies-red-bull-sport-sponsorship |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, it is often forgotten that until 1999, the football department of Bayer 04 was part of the still existing parent club TSV Bayer 04 e.V. in accordance with the 50+1 rule, which has since become one of the most successful sports clubs in Germany. As distinguished from the various [[Red Bull]] teams ([[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Salzburg]], [[New York Red Bulls|New York]] and [[RB Leipzig|Leipzig]]) which were established or redefined in the early 21st century primarily for commercial reasons, the formation of Bayer Leverkusen was motivated by the idea of promoting the living conditions of local factory workers early in the 20th century. In view of this tradition, UEFA allows Bayer Leverkusen to use the brand name Bayer in European club competitions, while disallowing such naming practices, most notably to Red Bull Salzburg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/spare-time-sixth-tier-coach-hard-pressing-bundesliga-topper-rise-and-rise-roger-schmidt |title=From spare-time sixth-tier coach to hard-pressing Bundesliga-topper: The rise and rise of Roger Schmidt |work=Four Four Two |date=17 September 2014 |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014032538/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/spare-time-sixth-tier-coach-hard-pressing-bundesliga-topper-rise-and-rise-roger-schmidt |archive-date=14 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Charity==
In March 2020, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and RB Leipzig, the four German UEFA Champions League teams for the 2019–20 season, collectively gave €30&nbsp;million to Bundesliga and to Bundesliga teams that were struggling financially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Veth |first1=Manuel |title=Bundesliga Champions League Starters Donate €20 Million To Help With Coronavirus Crisis |website=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/manuelveth/2020/03/27/bundesliga-champions-league-starters-donate-20m-to-help-with-coronavirus-crisis/ |access-date=10 August 2020 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523122324/https://www.forbes.com/sites/manuelveth/2020/03/27/bundesliga-champions-league-starters-donate-20m-to-help-with-coronavirus-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Honours==
===Domestic===
====League====
* '''[[Bundesliga]]'''
** '''Champions:''' [[2023–24 Bundesliga|2023–24]]
** Runners-up: [[1996–97 Bundesliga|1996–97]], [[1998–99 Bundesliga|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Bundesliga|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 Bundesliga|2001–02]], [[2010–11 Bundesliga|2010–11]], [[2024–25 Bundesliga|2024–25]]
* '''[[2. Bundesliga Nord (1974–1981)|2. Bundesliga North]]'''
** '''Champions:''' [[1978–79 2. Bundesliga|1978–79]]

====Cup====
* '''[[DFB-Pokal]]'''
** '''Winners:''' [[1992–93 DFB-Pokal|1992–93]], [[2023–24 DFB-Pokal|2023–24]]
** Runners-up: [[2001–02 DFB-Pokal|2001–02]], [[2008–09 DFB-Pokal|2008–09]], [[2019–20 DFB-Pokal|2019–20]]
* '''[[DFL-Supercup]]'''
** '''Winners:''' [[2024 DFL-Supercup|2024]]
** Runners-up: [[1993 DFB-Supercup|1993]]

===Europe===
* '''[[UEFA Champions League]]'''
** Runners-up: [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|2001–02]]<ref name="Bayer 04 Honours" />
* '''[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League]]'''
** '''Winners:''' [[1987–88 UEFA Cup|1987–88]]<ref name="Bayer 04 Honours" />
** Runners-up: [[2023–24 UEFA Europa League|2023–24]]

===Youth===
* '''[[Under 19 Bundesliga|German Under 19 Championship]]'''
** '''Winners:''' 1986, 2000, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/a-junioren-bundesliga/a-junioren-meisterschaft/alle-a-junioren-meister/| title=A-Junioren-Meister| website=dfb.de| date=16 January 2014| language=de| access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>
** Runners-up: 1995, 2001, 2003, 2010{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Under 17 Bundesliga|German Under 17 Championship]]'''
** '''Winners:''' 1992, 2016{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* '''[[Under 19 Bundesliga]]'''
** '''Winners:''' 2007, 2010{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===In Europe===
{{Main|Bayer 04 Leverkusen in European football}}
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2025}}

{{updated|23 October 2024}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|W|Won}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|L|Lost}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!scope="col"|{{tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!scope="col"|Win %
|-
!scope="row" align=left|[[UEFA Champions League]]
{{WDL|120|45|27|48|for=177|against=181|diff=yes}}
|-
!scope="row" align=left|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup/Europa League]]
{{WDL|141|73|31|37|for=253|against=144|diff=yes}}
|-
!scope="row" align=left|[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]
{{WDL|6|3|2|1|for=15|against=8|diff=yes}}
|-
!Total
{{WDLtot|267|121|60|86|for=445|against=333|diff=yes}}
|}

==Players==
{{For-text|recent transfers|[[List of German football transfers summer 2025#Bayer Leverkusen|Transfers summer 2025]]}}

===Squad===
{{updated|3 September 2025|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/team/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen|title=Werkself|access-date=1 September 2025|publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen|date=1 September 2025}}</ref>}}

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=NED|pos=GK|name=[[Mark Flekken]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jarell Quansah]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=[[Loïc Badé]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ARG|pos=MF|name=[[Equi Fernández]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Jonas Hofmann]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Robert Andrich]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ARG|pos=FW|name=[[Claudio Echeverri]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=[[Martin Terrier]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=BFA|pos=DF|name=[[Edmond Tapsoba]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=[[Arthur (footballer, born 2003)|Arthur]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=CZE|pos=FW|name=[[Patrik Schick]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=[[Axel Tape]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=MAR|pos=MF|name=[[Eliesse Ben Seghir]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=ARG|pos=FW|name=[[Alejo Sarco]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=NED|pos=FW|name=[[Ernest Poku]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Álex Grimaldo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Lucas Vázquez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=NGA|pos=MF|name=[[Nathan Tella]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Aleix García]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=ARG|pos=MF|name=[[Exequiel Palacios]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Jeremiah Mensah]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=[[Janis Blaswich]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=ALG|pos=MF|name=[[Ibrahim Maza]]}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=CMR|pos=FW|name=[[Christian Kofane]]}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=[[Niklas Lomb]]}}
{{Fs player|no=44|nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=[[Jeanuël Belocian]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===Players out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=CZE|pos=GK|name=[[Matěj Kovář]]|other=at [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Tim Oermann]]|other=at [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=SEN|pos=DF|name=[[Abdoulaye Faye (footballer, born 2004)|Abdoulaye Faye]]|other=at [[FC Lorient|Lorient]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ECU|pos=DF|name=[[Piero Hincapié]]|other=at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ITA|pos=DF|name=[[Andrea Natali]]|other=at [[AZ Alkmaar|AZ]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Noah Mbamba]]|other=at [[F.C.V. Dender E.H.|Dender]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=GER|pos=MF|name=[[Francis Onyeka]]|other=at [[VfL Bochum]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=UKR|pos=FW|name=[[Artem Stepanov]]|other=at [[1. FC Nürnberg]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=NGA|pos=FW|name=[[Victor Boniface]]|other=at [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=[[Farid Alfa-Ruprecht]]|other=at [[VfL Bochum]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs end}}

==Past players==
{{Main|List of Bayer 04 Leverkusen players}}

===Records===
Players in '''bold''' are active.

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Most Leverkusen appearances<ref name="Club Stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-leverkusen/statistik.php |title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen&nbsp;– Club Statistics |work=Bundesliga |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013103547/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/bayer-leverkusen/statistik.php |archive-date=13 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!Rank!!class="unsortable"|Nat.!!Player!!Period!!Apps
|-
|1||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Vollborn}}[[Rüdiger Vollborn]]||1982–1999||487
|-
|2||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Hörster}}[[Thomas Hörster]]||1977–1991||453
|-
|3||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Kirsten}}[[Ulf Kirsten]]||1990–2003||448
|-
|4||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Kießling}}[[Stefan Kießling]]||{{nowrap|2006–2018}}||444
|-
|5||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Ramelow}}[[Carsten Ramelow]]||1996–2008||437
|-
|6||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Tah}}[[Jonathan Tah]]||2015–2025||401
|-
|7||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Rolfes}}[[Simon Rolfes]]||2005–2015||377
|-
|8||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Castro}}[[Gonzalo Castro]]||2005–2015||370
|-
|9||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Schneider}}[[Bernd Schneider (footballer)|Bernd Schneider]]||1999–2009||366
|-
|10||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Bender}}[[Lars Bender]]||2009–2021||342
|}
{{Col-break}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Top scorers<ref name="Club Stats" />
!Rank!!class="unsortable"|Nat.!!Player!!Period!!Goals
|-
|1||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Kirsten}}[[Ulf Kirsten]]||{{nowrap|1990–2003}}||240
|-
|2||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Kießling}}[[Stefan Kießling]]||2006–2018||162
|-
|3||{{flagicon|BUL}}||{{Hs|Berbatov}}[[Dimitar Berbatov]]||2001–2006||91
|-
|4||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Waas}}[[Herbert Waas]]||1982–1990||87
|-
|5||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Schreier}}[[Christian Schreier]]||1984–1991||83
|-
|6||{{flagicon|CZE}}||{{Hs|Schick}}'''[[Patrik Schick]]'''||2020–present||82
|-
|7||{{flagicon|BRA}}||{{Hs|Sérgio}}[[Paulo Sérgio Silvestre do Nascimento|Paulo Sérgio]]||1993–1997||64
|-
|8||{{flagicon|ROK}}||{{Hs|Bum-Kun}}[[Cha Bum-Kun]]||1983–1989||63
|-
|9||{{flagicon|ARG}}||{{Hs|Alario}}[[Lucas Alario]]||2017–2022||58
|-
|10||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Bellarabi}}[[Karim Bellarabi]]||2011–2023||57
|-
|10||{{flagicon|GER}}||{{Hs|Wirtz}}[[Florian Wirtz]]||2020–2025||57
|-
|}{{Col-end}}

==Coaching staff==
{{updated|8 September 2025}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Position
!Staff
|-
| Head of performance || {{flagicon|ESP}} Miguel Ángel Campos
|-
| Head coach || {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Kasper Hjulmand]]
|-
| Assistant head coach || {{flagicon|ESP}} Sergi Runge <br/> {{flagicon|NED}} [[Rogier Meijer]]
|-
| Goalkeeper coach || {{flagicon|GER}} David Thiel
|-
| Fitness coach || {{flagicon|GER}} Markus Müller <br/> {{flagicon|GER}} Jonas Rath <br/> {{flagicon|BRA}} Daniel Jouvin <br/> {{flagicon|BRA}} Allessandro Schoenmaker
|-
| Analysis || {{flagicon|GER}} Marcel Daum
|-
| Analyst first-team squad || {{flagicon|GER}} Simon Lackmann
|-
| Head of sports science and athletics || {{flagicon|GER}} Malte Krüger
|-
| Licence Coordination || {{flagicon|GER}} [[Stefan Kießling]]
|-
| Team Doctor  || {{flagicon|GER}} Karl-Heinrich Dittmar <br/>  {{flagicon|GER}} Philipp Ehrenstein <br/> {{flagicon|GER}} Stefan Porten 
|-
| Physiotherapist ||  {{flagicon|GER}} Florian Kroder <br/>  {{flagicon|GER}} Ill-Han Yu <br/> {{flagicon|GER}} Jonas Schmitt <br/> {{flagicon|GER}} David Jann <br/> {{flagicon|GER}} Ahura Bassimtabar
|-
| Support Staff || {{flagicon|GER}} Martin Kowatzki <br/>  {{flagicon|GER}} Christian Beckers <br/>  {{flagicon|GER}} Markus Irmer
|-
| Team Manager || {{flagicon|GER}} [[Hans-Peter Lehnhoff]]
|}

==Coaching history==
{{updated|8 September 2025|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |title=Bayer 04 Coaches |publisher=Bayer 04 Leverkusen |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150152/http://www.bayer04.de/b04-eng/en/_site_index.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*{{flagicon|Austria}} Lori Polster (1950)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Raimond Schwab (1950–51)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Franz Strehle (1951–53)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Hans-Josef Kretschmann (1953–56)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Emil Melcher (1956–57)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Edmund Conen]] (1957–59)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Theo Kirchberg (1959–60)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Erich Garske (1960–62)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Fritz Pliska]] (1962–65)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Theo Kirchberg (1965–71)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Gero Bisanz]] (1971–73)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Friedhelm Renno (1973–74)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} Manfred Rummel (1974–75)
*{{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Radoslav Momirski]] (1976–76)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Willibert Kremer]] (1 July 1976 – 22 November 1981)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Gerhard Kentschke]] (23 November 1981 – 30 June 1982)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Dettmar Cramer]] (1 July 1982 – 30 June 1985)
*{{flagicon|West Germany}}/{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Erich Ribbeck]] (1 July 1985 – 30 June 1988, 10 April 1995 – 27 April 1996)
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Rinus Michels]] (1 July 1988 – 13 April 1989)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jürgen Gelsdorf]] (13 April 1989 – 30 May 1991)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Peter Hermann (footballer)|Peter Hermann]] (31 May 1991 – 30 June 1991)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Reinhard Saftig]] (1 July 1991 – 4 April 1993)
*{{flagicon|Serbia and Montenegro}} [[Dragoslav Stepanović]] (4 April 1993 – 7 April 1995)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Peter Hermann (footballer)|Peter Hermann]] (28 April 1996 – 30 June 1996)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Christoph Daum]] (1 July 1996 – 21 October 2000)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rudi Völler]] (21 October 2000–11 November 2000, 16 September 2005 – 9 October 2005)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Berti Vogts]] (12 November 2000 – 20 May 2001)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Klaus Toppmöller]] (1 July 2001 – 15 February 2003)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Thomas Hörster]] (16 February 2003 – 10 May 2003)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Klaus Augenthaler]] (13 May 2003 – 16 September 2005)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Michael Skibbe]] (9 October 2005 – 21 May 2008)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Bruno Labbadia]] (1 July 2008 – 5 June 2009)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Jupp Heynckes]] (5 June 2009 – 1 July 2011)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Robin Dutt]] (1 July 2011 – 1 April 2012)
*{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Sami Hyypiä]] (1 April 2012 – 5 April 2014)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Sascha Lewandowski]] (5 April 2014 – 1 July 2014)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Roger Schmidt (football manager)|Roger Schmidt]] (1 July 2014 – 5 March 2017)
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Tayfun Korkut]] (6 March 2017 – 30 June 2017)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Heiko Herrlich]] (1 July 2017 – 23 December 2018)
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Peter Bosz]] (23 December 2018 – 23 March 2021)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannes Wolf (football manager)|Hannes Wolf]] (23 March 2021 – 30 June 2021)
*{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Gerardo Seoane]] (1 July 2021 – 5 October 2022)
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Xabi Alonso]] (5 October 2022 – 31 May 2025)
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Erik ten Hag]] (1 July 2025 – 1 September 2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/news/bayer04/bayer-04-trennt-sich-von-chefcoach-ten-hag-co-trainerstab-uebernimmt-vorlaeufig |title=Bayer 04 trennt sich von Chefcoach ten Hag – Co-Trainerstab übernimmt vorläufig  |work=Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=1 September 2025 |date=1 September 2025 |language=German }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Kasper Hjulmand]] (8 September 2025 – present)}}

==Women's section==
{{Main|Bayer 04 Leverkusen (women)}}

==See also==
* [[TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (handball)]] 
* [[Bayer Giants Leverkusen|Bayer Giants Leverkusen (basketball)]] 
* [[KFC Uerdingen 05]]
* [[Works team]]
* [[The Football Club Social Alliance]]
* [[Leverkusen]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.bayer04.de/en-us}} {{in lang|en|de|es}}
* [https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/clubs/bayer-04-leverkusen Bayer 04 Leverkusen] at Bundesliga
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50109--leverkusen/ Bayer 04 Leverkusen] at [[UEFA]]
* [http://www.resultsfromfootball.com/bundesliga-team/bayerleverkusen.html Leverkusen statistics]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123103953/http://www.resultsfromfootball.com/team/germany/bayer-leverkusen-14/ |date=23 January 2020 }}.
* [https://archive.today/20121209032340/http://www.football-lineups.com/games/?campaign=15.73 Bayer Leverkusen formations] at Football-Lineups

{{Bayer 04 Leverkusen}}
{{UEFA Europa League winners}}
{{Bundesliga}}
{{2. Bundesliga}}
{{G-14}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leverkusen, Bayer}}
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1904]]
[[Category:G-14 clubs]]
[[Category:Multi-sport clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League winning clubs]]
[[Category:Bayer]]
[[Category:Sport in Leverkusen]]
[[Category:Works football clubs in Germany]]
[[Category:Bundesliga clubs]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga clubs]]