Bayer Leverkusen is a professional football club based in the city of Leverkusen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The club was founded in 1904 and has a long and rich history in German football.
Bayer Leverkusen is known for its strong youth academy and for developing young players who later go on to have successful careers in the Bundesliga and other top European leagues. The club has also had success at the senior level, winning the DFB-Pokal (the German Cup) in 1993 and 2002, and reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2002.
The club's name reflects its close association with the Bayer chemical company, which is headquartered in Leverkusen. Bayer Leverkusen has been owned by the Bayer Group since 1904, and the club's home ground, the BayArena, is located adjacent to the Bayer headquarters.
Bayer Leverkusen has a strong fan base and is known for its distinctive red and black striped kit. The club has a longstanding rivalry with the nearby club FC Köln, and matches between the two teams are highly anticipated by fans.
In recent years, Bayer Leverkusen has consistently finished in the top half of the Bundesliga table and has been a regular participant in European competitions such as the Europa League and the Champions League. The club continues to be a major force in German football and is highly respected both in Germany and throughout Europe.