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Leverkusen (dpa) - Ex-national player Lars Bender will be named honorary captain of Bayer Leverkusen after his career has ended.

This was announced by the works club on the Saturday before the game against 1. FC Union Berlin (3.30 p.m. / Sky) kicked off.

"However, we will only make the solemn appointment when, hopefully, spectators can come to the BayArena again in the next season and we can offer Lars the festive and emotional setting he deserves," said managing director Rudi Völler.

The 32-year-old Lars Bender has been with Leverkusen since 2009 and will not be fit until Bayer’s last game of the season at Borussia Dortmund on May 22 after a knee injury.

Before him, Rüdiger Vollborn, Carsten Ramelow, Ulf Kirsten, Bernd Schneider, Simon Rolfes and Stefan Kießling were appointed honorary captains of the club.

In addition to Lars, his twin brother Sven, who also ended his career after this season, is to be honored for his services before the game against Union.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210515-99-608353 / 2

Bayer announcement