In the first season in the top-flight in 1979/80, Bayer 04 were only in a relegation spot once – after matchday one and a 3-1 defeat against Bayern in Munich. Nevertheless, the Werkself remained close to the drop zone. On matchday 33, the champions of Germany and league leaders Hamburg SV came to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The situation is tense as Bayer 04 need every point with just three separating them from the relegation places. Salvation finally comes after 90 minutes. In a dramatic match, HSV are beaten 2-1 and the whole of Leverkusen can look forward to another season in the Bundesliga.
After a bumpy start to the season and the Christoph Daum affair in November 2000, matchday 13 produces a 3-1 win at Hamburg SV and the surprising rise to the top of the table. However, being league leaders does not last long under the new coach Berti Vogts and his two assistants Pierre Littbarski and Wolfgang Rolff. The sporting rollercoaster ride continues after the winter break with lots of highs and lows. On matchday 34, the Werkself achieved a nail-biting 1-0 win against VfL Bochum thanks to a very good Frank Juric in goal and a strike from Oliver Neuville. Finishing fourth in the table qualifies Leverkusen for the qualifying rounds in the Champions League in 2001/02. And every Bayer 04 fan knows what happened then...
Claus-Dieter, known as ‘Pele’, Wollitz was born in Brakel on 19 July 1965 in Brakel. He earned the nickname of the Brazilian global super star at the age of six because he was able to the juggle the ball for a long time as a child. What was originally meant as a stunt would follow him all his life. Every football fan associates the name Wollwitz with his nickname: Pele.
Show moreJosé Roberto da Silva Junior, Zé Roberto for short, was born in the Brazilian city of São Paulo on 6 July 1974. He started playing football at the Pequeninos de Joquey soccer school at the age of seven. Via the club Palestra Sao Bernardo, the left footer moved on to the professional club Portuguesa de Desportos where he made his debut in 1994.
Show more25 years ago, the Bayer 04 U19 team under their two coaches Thomas Hörster and Dirk Dreher were Regional League West champions and thereby participants in the finals of the German championship.
Show moreAfter promotion to Bundesliga 2, the football boss Hermann Bacall had his hands full putting together a powerful team. For the first training session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 14 July 1975 there were nine new signings including five players who became regular starters in the team that won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979.
Show moreAfter the success of the previous year, the gymnastics and sports club Leverkusen hold the ‘Wiesdorfer Sportwoche’ week of sports for a second time (the city of Leverkusen is only founded in 1930). The week of sport started on Sunday, 12 July 1925. In the years before World War I there were municipal gymnastics and games festivals. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the club in 1924 the board and many helping hands started the week of sports. An internal municipal games festival developed into a national event which made a name for itself after a year particularly due to the relay element.
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