Christian joined Leverkusen on 1 July 1991 and he formed a very strong and reliable partnership at the Werkself in central defence with Martin Kree. Wörnser was uncompromising in tackles, a tough opponent and incredibly strong in the air. He made 211 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04 scoring 13 goals along the way. His biggest success with our club was winning the DFB Cup in 1993.
After seven successful years at Leverkusen, he joined Paris St Germain for 12 months but was not happy there so he returned to the Bundesliga. To the sorrow of all Bayer 04 fans, he won the Bundesliga title in 2002 with his new club Borussia Dortmund. Christian was capped 66 times for Germany and he ended his playing career in 2008 after a total of 469 Bundesliga appearances. But he stayed with football and began his coaching career. Wörnser primarily worked with youth teams for VfL Bochum, Schalke 04, SpVgg Unterhaching, FC Augsburg, 1860 Munich and, last but not least, for the German Football Association since 2019. He worked alongside a familiar face for Bayer 04 in assistant coach Peter Hermann, responsible for the 2002 intake but since March he has been the assistant coach at Schalke 04.
Wörnser, I wish you many happy returns on your 50th birthday. Stay fit and healthy.
Dieter Bast was born in Oberhausen on 28 August 1951. He began playing football in the youth team at DJK Arminia Klosterhardt, a local club in Oberhausen. Whilst training as a toolmaker, he moved to neighbouring club Sterkrade 06/07 to play for their U19s, where he caught the eye of Bundesliga sides Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bast opted for Rot-Weiss and played in the Bundesliga from 1970 onwards. In his very first year, he made 22 appearances as a right winger, scoring three goals. Nevertheless, Essen were unable to avoid relegation.
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José Vítor Roque Júnior was born on 31 August 1976 in Santa Rita do Sapucaí, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As a youth, he played for São José EC, a club in the east of the state of São Paulo. His professional career began in 1995 with Palmeiras São Paulo. There, Roque Júnior quickly established himself as a key player in the team, making more than 200 appearances and enjoying significant success. With the club, he won the Copa do Brasil in 1998 and the Copa Libertadores in 1999, the South American equivalent of the European Champions League.
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In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 from the month of August. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
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The Werkself play their first top-flight match in Bayer 04’s history away at Sportfreunde Katernberg. 7,000 spectators turn up at the Am Lindenbruch stadium in that district of Essen. The Katernbergers have transformed the once ‘barren’ pitch into a real gem. On this Sunday afternoon, 19 August 1951, the lush turf provides the perfect conditions for a good game of football.
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Following a thoroughly successful start with a 2–1 home win against VfL Wolfsburg, the Werkself are organising a team event. On Wednesdays, they head to the Nürburgring together and do a few laps at speed. Manager Klaus Toppmöller welcomes this initiative, as it promotes team spirit and integration. During weekly training sessions, the team works extensively on various defensive tactics, as the manager was dissatisfied with his players’ pressing in the final minutes of the match against the Wolves.
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