For years the training grounds and stadiums were not his only stomping grounds but also the A3 autobahn. "I went up and down it every day," explains Dieter Herzog. The reason for his commuting: Leaving his hometown and birthplace of Oberhausen was never an option for Herzog. Neither was his transfer from Fortuna Düsseldorf to the Werkself in 1976. The connection to his family, friends and acquaintances were simply too strong.
Herzog almost never travelled alone to training over all the years. Goalkeeper Fred Bockholt, his Leverkusen teammate back then, used to pick him up in Oberhausen on his way from Bottrop to Leverkusen. "We had an incredible amount of fun on those journeys," recalls Herzog with a smile on his face.
Dieter Herzog took his first steps in football in Sterkrade and he finally made the breakthrough at Fortuna Düsseldorf at the start of the 1970s after playing at Bottrop – alongside Bockholt – and Hamborn. From the 1971/72 season, he played every Bundesliga match for three seasons in succession. The man from Oberhausen became an established top-flight player in the North Rhine-Westphalia state capital. His qualities caught the attention of the Germany coach Helmut Schön.
Herzog, who was already 27 years old, made his full international debut in the spring of 1974. After two friendlies, the striker was in the squad for the 1974 World Cup in Germany. The rest of the story is well known: Germany won the World Cup and Herzog picked up his first and only title.
Two years after his great triumph, the now 75-year-old surprised German football two years later with his move to the second division club Bayer 04. The stalwart quickly became the boss and captain of the team and in his third year in Leverkusen he led the Black and Reds into the Bundesliga in 1979. Bayer 04 have remained there ever since – also thanks to Herzog.
When he ended his playing career in 1983 at the age of 37, he had made 83 Bundesliga appearances for the Werkself. The winger scored six goals. In the second division, Herzog played 110 games and scored 23 goals. Certainly his most important goal came in 1982 in the 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-off at Kickers Offenbach (second leg: 2-1).
At home in his four walls in Oberhausen, the beloved round leather ball was not the most popular subject for discussion in his early years. "The subject of football is taboo at home," revealed Dieter Herzog ahead of the 1974 World Cup. That will definitely have changed with the titles, goals and success for the World Cup winner and Leverkusen promotion hero in the following years…
You can learn more about Dieter Herzog in the second edition of the Werkself podcast.
Monster Energy has been a partner in the Sponsors Club at Bayer 04 Leverkusen since the start of the 2023/24 season. Monster Energy has shown their products at Werkself home games on the LED advertising hoardings at the BayArena. Monster Energy activated the next stage of the partnership with the current Bundesliga league leaders for Bayer 04’s home game against Union Berlin in the middle of November. Monster Energy will continue to present themselves as a reliable and ambitious partner to Leverkusen fans through similar promotional events as at the game against Union Berlin.
Show moreBayer 04 involvement with the ‘Kältegang Leverkusen’ project continues this winter. The current Bundesliga league leaders and their fans again presented financial and in-kind donations to the homeless charity at home game against Borussia Dortmund (1-1).
Show moreThe Werkself remain unbeaten after the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga Matchday 13. The one-sided game demanded a lot of strength of nerve and competitive spirit from Xabi Alonso's team. In the end, Victor Boniface rewarded the relentless attacking efforts of the league leaders against passive but efficient visitors. The Werkself review.
Show moreBayer 04 were held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga. Julian Ryerson had put the visitors in front at a sold-out BayArena after only five minutes. Leverkusen would go on to dominate proceedings and finally get their deserved equaliser through Victor Boniface in the 79th minute. It’s a result that extends the Werkself’s unbeaten run in all competitions this season to 20 matches.
Show moreFor the 17th time, Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH has awarded the Volunteers Award for outstanding commitment to football in Leverkusen and the surrounding region. The three outstanding clubs in 2023 are BSV Roleber 1919, TuS 05 Oberpleis and SV 1924 Glehn. They will each receive prize money of €5,000.
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