Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Introduction
If you’ve never been to a German football match before, or if you are looking for a light introduction to the modern Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen is one of the best places to start.
An old club with strong company links
The origins of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH go back to 1904 when employees of the Leverkusen-based pharmaceutical company Bayer got together to form a sports club.
The football section was created in 1907 and in 1928 the footballers split from the main club to form SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
From the twenties until the 1930s Bayer played in lower divisions but gained promotion to the second division in 1936.
In the 1950’s Bayer gained promotion to the top regional league (Oberliga West) but were relegated in 1956.
Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga
After the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 Bayer found themselves in the second division where, apart from one year, they remained until 1979 when they gained promotion to the Bundesliga.
Bayer held onto Bundesliga status throughout the 1980’s and won the UEFA Cup in 1988.
The 1990’s and the early years of the best century were to be the most successful in Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s history. They won the German Cup in 1993 and from 1997 to 2002 achieved a series of second place finished in the Bundesliga. This tendency to miss titles at the last minute earned them the nickname ‘Neverkusen,. The worst year for Bayer fans was 2002-03 when they just missed out on winning the championship, cup and UEFA Champions League.
Since then, apart from the odd flirtation with relegation, high placings in the Bundesliga have regularly secured them places in the Champions or Europa Leagues.
Main Honours
Bundesliga:
Runners-up : 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2010–11
German Cup :
Winners : 1992–93
Runners-up : 2001–02, 2008–09
Europe
UEFA Cup:
Winners : 1987–88
UEFA Champions League:
Runners-up : 2001–02
Famous former players
Michael Ballack
Rudi Völler
Bernd Schuster
Emerson
Famous managers
Rudi Völler
Berti Vogts
Klaus Augenthaler
Jupp Heynckes
Christoph Daum
Sami Hypia
Colours : red and black
Derby rivals : 1 FC Köln, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Nicknames : Werkself, Pillendreher
Stadium
The BayArena is a great place to watch football. Extensive modernisation and refurbishment in 2007 have turned it into one to the most attractive, comfortable and fan-friendly venues you are ever likely to visit. With a maximum capacity of 30,000, there are enough fans to generate a sense of occasion without it being overwhelming – and the closeness of all seats to the action makes sure everyone gets a good view and maximises the atmosphere.
Inside the stadium there are all the usual food and drink outlets, a club shop, a creche and free WiFi. If you download the Live-App you can access live, realtime data about the game.
Tickets
Buying tickets to see Bayer 04 Leverkusen is really simple. If you call the ticket hotline (+49-1805/040404) you will be connected to someone who can speak English and who will help you with your order. You can also use online ticket shop to order a ticket. Although the forms are all in German it’s very obvious what you have to do. By ordering this way you can select exactly where you want to sit. If you request the Print@Home facility the club will email your ticket to you to print out and bring with you.
Prices are very reasonable, even by Bundesliga standards. Exactly how much you pay depends on the game. Local derbies against Borussia Mönchengladbach or 1 FC Köln or games against the likes of FC Bayern München will cost a bit more. If you went to a smaller game you could pay as little as 13 euros for a standing ticket and about 30 euros for a seat.
Directions
Leverkusen is between Düsseldorf and Cologne and can you can get there easily and quickly by train from either city. The journey from Düsseldorf with the regional train (RE1 or RE5 ) takes about 15 minutes and there are at least three trains an hour. The same trains going in the opposite direction will get you there from Cologne in about the same time.
Website
Where to stay in Leverkusen
The Lindner is a 200 room hotel connected to the BayArena. A room will set you back about 125 euros per night. There are, however, cheaper alternatives :
- Hotel ibis (from 39 euros per room)
- Hotel am Stadion (a single room from 29 euros and a double from 79 euros)
- Haus Fück (a single room from 59 euros and a double room from 79 euros)
Five things to do in and around Leverkusen
1. Visit Cologne
Cologne cathedral, the Rhine, a huge pedestrian-only shopping area and a huge array of pubs, cafes and restaurants are all a short train journey from Leverkusen.
2. Go for a walk
The walk from the train station to the stadium takes you through a lovely park – one of the nicest approaches to a football ground I have ever seen.
3. Visit the water tower
From the top you get a superb view of Leverkusen and its surroundings. On a good day you can see as far as Bonn.
4. Go shopping or for a meal
The Oppladen shopping centre is close to the main station.
5. Go on the river
If you go to the harbour at Hitdorf you can catch a ferry to the other side of the Rhine
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