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5.05.2022Bayer 04

Bayer 04 mourn the loss of Leo Wilden

Leo Wilden was at the Werkself for seven years. Today (Thursday) he passed away at the age of 85 in his hometown of Cologne. The former Germany international, who was a defender and employee from 1966 to 1973, is remembered fondly by many under the Bayer Cross.
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He experienced his biggest sporting success with FC Köln winning the German league title in 1962 and 1964. He earned 15 international caps for Germany and played in the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Leo Wilden also made his mark on Leverkusen.

Wilden joined the Werkself in 1966 and was one of the key players in the team under coach Theo Kirchberg in his second season at Leverkusen when they comfortably won the Regional League West title and thereby qualified for the Bundesliga play-offs. The Bayer team just missed out on making it into Germany's top flight when they finished second behind Kickers Offenbach. "We sensed promotion and were hungry for it," said Leo Wilden back then after a season that inspired euphoria in football fans in Leverkusen.

The defender hung up his boots at the age of 33 but continued to work for Bayer 04. In 1971, Wilden was the deputy to the football chairman Dr. Jürgen Schwericke and he worked in that role under the Bayer Cross up to 1973.

A profile of Leo Wilden, that appeared in July of last year marking his 85th birthday, is HERE.

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