Bayer Leverkusen

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Skibbe: Thank Goodness For Adler

Bayer Leverkusen trainer Michael Skibbe has seen some of the pressure lifted from him after his side’s 2-0 win over Hansa Rostock pushed the Werkself back into the Uefa Cup qualification places.

Two penalties, one from Simon Rolfes and the other from Gonzalo Castro fired Bayer to a much needed victory which condemned Hansa to second division football next season.

Skibbe had come under pressure earlier in the week after Leverkusen suffered their second successive loss, but their chances of making it into Europe next season now rest on their final game of the season against Werder Bremen.

“It was a great relief that in the final moments when Hansa had their good chances, that we had a man like Rene Adler in goal. Overall I am pleased with the performance of my team” Skibbe explained.

“The pressure was on them because of their previous results, but they went about their task well.

“The Bundesliga fans can’t ask for better than the current situation. The fight for European places is going to go right down to the wire.”

Rostock trainer Frank Pagelsdorf was down after seeing his side relegated, but was buoyed by the home fans reaction.

“Two things were obvious: We lacked the piercing edge in the first half and we let in some cheap goals” he said.

“But I must compliment the fans for the way they have supported their team. Of course we are all very sad, but it is fantastic the way in which our fans have celebrated today.”

Goal.com - Bayer Leverkusen - Skibbe: Thank Goodness For Adler

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Bayer 04 Leverkusen 08/09 home Adidas shirt

[Dragoen]

Wow this shirt is beating every other shirt in terms of uglyness by far. I would be ashamed if I had to play in shirt like that.

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Originally Posted by Dragoen

Wow this shirt is beating every other shirt in terms of uglyness by far. I would be ashamed if I had to play in shirt like that.

Agreed. So plain and ugly.

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Bundesliga, Matchday 34 | PREVIEW
Bayer Leverkusen – Werder Bremen

Even though it is the last game of a very long season for both these sides, the three points are still extremely important. For a long while, Michael Skibbe’s up-and-coming young side were being touted as potential title contenders, but a slump after Christmas has seen them have to settle for a Uefa Cup battle. A few weeks ago they slipped out of the top five altogether, but now have one game to secure one of the two spots in Europe next season.

Four teams sit on 51 points at the moment but it could be argued that both Stuttgart and Hamburg have slightly easier matches and maybe hold the advantage. To miss out on Europe would be a huge disappointment to Bayer, and no doubt the calls for trainer Michael Skibbe’s head that were recently heard would resurface.

Werder will also be wondering what could have been after finishing neck and neck with Bayern Munich at the half way stage. A poor run of form directly after the winter break allowed the Bavarians to open up a lead which they have only extended since then.

Finishing second will still be a positive achievement for Werder and will spare them the qualification rounds in next season’s Champions League, which considering the trouble they had against Dinamo Zagreb earlier this season maybe just as well.

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Bayer Leverkusen 0 - 1 Werder Bremen

80' [0 - 1] M. Rosenberg

Bayer Leverkusen 0 Werder Bremen 1

A solitary goal from Swede Markus Rosenberg ten minutes from time was enough to win this match and secure the runners up spot for Werder Bremen.

A fine pass from Klasnic to Frings started the move and the German midfielder played in the Swedish striker to coolly fire past Rene Adler and deny the Werkself European football next season.

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Skibbe Out At Leverkusen

The writing was on the wall for Bayer Leverkusen trainer Michael Skibbe following Saturday’s loss to Werder Bremen that cost them a place in Europe next season. The Bayer board have reacted today by firing him.

The 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen last weekend was the straw that broke the camels back for Skibbe as it saw Hamburg and Wolfsburg secure to two Uefa Cup spots and condemn Leverkusen to seventh place in the Bundesliga.

The Werkself board met on Wednesday and took the decision to jettison Skibbe and seek somebody new to lead the side next season. He joins Dortmund’s Thomas Doll as the latest trainer casualty in the Bundesliga.

“Due to the last Bundesliga results and the fact that we have not met our season’s targets we have decided on an immediate parting of the ways with Michael Skibbe” said Chairman Wolfgang Holzhäuser.

“We had long and numerous discussions because Michael Skibbe has performed well during his time in charge. But at the end of the day everything pointed towards a brand new start for the club next season under a new trainer” he added.

Leverkusen took just seven points from their last ten Bundesliga matches and ended up in seventh place, which was a disaster considering their high ambitions.

Despite attempting to convince the board that he had the ability and solutions to turn things around next year, 42 year old Skibbe saw his tenure at the club ended with a year left to run on his current contract.

Sporting director Rudi Völler has long been a firm supporter of Skibbe, and was had only words of praise for Skibbe. “As everyone can imagine, this was a very difficult decision to make.”

Skibbe took control of the Werkself in October 2005 after the sacking of Klaus Augenthaler. Before that he was trainer at Borussia Dortmund and served as assistant to Rudi Völler.

“I have enjoyed my time here as Bayer trainer” Skibbe said after learning of the decision.

“I regret that we were unable to fulfil the expectations in the past few weeks. Despite that I’m delighted with development of the team, especially players like Rene Adler, Gonzalo Castro, Simon Rolfes and Tranquillo Barnetta.

“I wish Bayer Leverkusen and particularly my successor all the best for the future and lots of success.”

Goal.com - Bayer Leverkusen - Skibbe Out At Leverkusen

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Mirko Slomka Next In At Leverkusen?

Former Schalke trainer Mirko Slomka is being lined up to succeed Michael Skibbe at Bayer Leverkusen according to reports.

Days after his sacking from Bayer Leverkusen the wheels are already in motion to find a successor to 42 year old Michael Skibbe with the name of Mirko Slomka already to the fore.

The 40 year was sacked by Schalke towards the end of the season despite leading them to the Champions League quarter finals where they lost out to Barcelona.

Bayer sporting director Rudi Völler has said that the club won’t be rushing into any decisions, but it appears that thing will start to move next week.

The other candidate in the frame is Jürgen Klopp of Mainz, but it appears that he is close to signing for Borussia Dortmund.

When approached Slomka was very coy on the rumours. “I do not want to comment. There has been no contact and I have been in Moscow watching the Champions League final. I’ll fly back to Germany and then we’ll see what happens” he commented.

One stumbling block may be the fact that he is still under contract at the Veltins Arena so that would have to be sorted in an amicable way before any agreement with Leverkusen could be reached.

Leverkusen chairman Wolfgang Holzhäuser also has Greuther Fürth trainer Bruno Labbadia in his sights, but he could well be unattainable.

“He has a contract until 2009 and he will fulfil it” vowed Fürth boss Helmut Hack.

Goal.com - Bayer Leverkusen - Mirko Slomka Next In At Leverkusen?

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BAYER TAKE TIME OVER SEARCH

Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voller insists they will not rush into picking a new coach, although an appointment could be imminent.

Leverkusen severed ties with Michael Skibbe earlier this week and were believed to be interested in Jurgen Klopp, who was appointed as coach of Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.

According to Germany's Bild newspaper, former Schalke coach Mirko Slomka is now the number one candidate, and preliminary talks have already taken place.

Voller revealed that he is in negotiations with someone, but would not reveal his identity.

"We are currently in talks, but a decision will not be made until the start of next week at the earliest," he said.

"We are not going to make a panic appointment."

Slomka was sacked by Schalke in April after crashing out of the Champions League to Barcelona in the quarter-final stage.

In his first full year in charge in Gelsenkirchen, the 40-year-old came close to clinching their first ever Bundesliga title, losing top spot only on the penultimate day of the season.

Despite European disappointment, Slomka did well domestically, keeping the Royal Blues on course for a place in next season's Champions League before he was given the boot.

While these achievements may not have been fully recognised by Schalke, he could well have the characteristics Leverkusen are looking for as they bid to return to the top five next season.

"We need somebody who can bring some new fire to the club, who can motivate the players," said Voller.

SportingLife.com

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Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed a new head coach. Bruno Labbadia (42) will take over from Michael Skibbe next season.

Labbadia, who had coached 2. Bundesliga side SpVgg Greuther Fürth this season, has signed a two-year contract with Bayer.

Leverkusen had parted ways with head coach Michael Skibbe last Wednesday after missing out on qualification for European competition.

Details not disclosed

Fürth have allowed Labbadia to sign for Leverkusen despite a contract until 2009. The details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The former striker is still the only player who has managed to score at least 100 goals in both Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, playing for Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, FC Bayern, 1. FC Köln, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Bayer sign young defender

Leverkusen head coach Bruno Labbadia has made a signing for next season. A 21 year old defender will make the move to the Bundesliga side.

Constant Djakpa (Ivory Coast) has signed for Bayer. The 21 year old left back has put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

First new signing

Djakba transfers from Romanian top flight club Pandurii Targu-Jiu for an undisclosed fee.

He is Bayer Leverkusen's first signing in what will be the first season under new coach Labbadia.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker has left Leverkusen.

Borussia Mönchengladbach have signed Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker from Bayer Leverkusen.

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year deal after completing a medical.

"Jan-Ingwer has played at the highest level in Leverkusen, in Bundesliga and Champions League. He's a young German defender and will strengthen us at the back", Borussia sporting director Christian Ziege commented.

Callsen-Bracker had been in Leverkusen since 1998 and has played 36 Bundesliga matches and 16 European games.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Season underway at Leverkusen

The preparations for the 2008/09 season at Bayer 04 Leverkusen are underway.

The first steps weren't made on the Bayer training ground, however.

Fitness tests

The players gathered at the physical education college in Cologne, where examinations shall control the players' fitness.

The second group will visit the physical education college today. The first training under new coach Bruno Labbadia will take place on Wednesday.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Bayer striker leaves

Michal Papadopulos has made the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Czech side Mlada Bolslav.

The 23 year old striker, who had been on loan at Energie Cottbus in 2008, leaves the Bundesliga after two and a half years.

19 games for Leverkusen

Papadopulos had joined Bayer from Banik Ostrava in January 2006, playing 19 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen.

Papadopulos transfers for an undisclosed fee.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite