Bayer 1904 Youth development
History
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth academy, officially known as the Bayer 04 Jugend, has a long and successful history. The academy was founded in 1958, and since then, it has produced a number of talented players who have gone on to play for the Bayer 04 Leverkusen first team. Some of the most famous players to have come through the Bayer 04 Jugend include Michael Ballack, Rudi Völler, and Stefan Kießling. The academy's success can be attributed to a number of factors, including its excellent coaching staff, its state-of-the-art facilities, and its focus on player development. The academy has a strong emphasis on developing players technically and tactically, and it also provides players with the opportunity to play in competitive matches against other youth academies. The academy's success is also due to its close relationship with the Bayer 04 Leverkusen first team. The first team coaches often work with the youth academy coaches to identify and develop talented players, and they also provide the youth academy players with opportunities to train and play with the first team.
Current squad
The Bayer 04 Jugend currently has a squad of over 200 players, ranging in age from 6 to 19. The squad is divided into 12 teams, which compete in various youth leagues in Germany. The most successful team in the academy is the U-19 team, which has won the German championship four times in the past 10 years. The U-19 team also regularly competes in the UEFA Youth League, which is the top youth club competition in Europe. The Bayer 04 Jugend has a number of talented players in its current squad, and many of these players are expected to go on to play for the Bayer 04 Leverkusen first team in the future.
Notable graduates
A number of notable players have graduated from the Bayer 04 Jugend over the years. Some of the most famous graduates include:
- Michael Ballack
- Rudi Völler
- Stefan Kießling
- Kai Havertz
- Florian Wirtz