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After the war, he moved to Slavonski Brod in Croatia, where he joined NK Marsonia. There, the uncompromising man-marker made his breakthrough at senior level. In 1996, he signed for the Zagreb club NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac - which translates as "Croatian Volunteers". During this time, Zivkovic also attracted attention and made his first appearances for the Croatia U21 team.
His talent did not go unnoticed abroad. Bayer 04 boss Reiner Calmund became aware of the robust defender and brought him to the Bundesliga in 1997. Over the next six years, Boris became an integral part of the Werkself. He made 208 appearances and scored 12 goals. And on 14 October in Bremen, he also kept goal for three minutes after Bayer 04 keeper Pascal Zuberbühler was sent off and the Werkself had already used the maximum number of substitutes quota. Boris was unable to save the ensuing penalty, but he was not tested in the final minutes of the game. With the Werkself, he was a runner-up three times and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2002. Even though the legendary final against Real Madrid ended in defeat, that season will be remembered as one of the most important in the club's history.
After the difficult 2002/2003 season, when Bayer 04 only avoided relegation on the final matchday, Boris joined Portsmouth in England. Although he would have liked to stay at Leverkusen, the club could no longer afford his wages. Boris rejected a lower offer - and he went to England.
However, his stay in England was short-lived. After just one year, he returned to the Bundesliga - this time to VfB Stuttgart. But things didn't really go to plan for the defender in Swabia: In two years, he only made 23 Bundesliga appearances. In the 2005/06 season, he was loaned out to FC Köln, but even in the cathedral city of Cologne he was denied a place in the starting eleven.
In the 2006/2007 season, Boris finally moved on to Croatia to join Hajduk Split. There he regained his former strength and became a regular player. After three successful years, he ended his playing career in 2009.
Boris can also look back on an impressive career on the international stage. During his time in Leverkusen, he was called up to the Croatia team for the first time and he played in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Although he was shown a red card in the first group game, he made a total of 39 appearances for his home country and was regarded as one of Croatia's most reliable defenders.
Even after the end of his career, he remained loyal to football. He is an occasional guest at the BayArena and, when time permits, plays for the Bayer 04 Veterans team. Boris Zivkovic has been married to his wife Ivona for over 20 years. Together they have a son who now plays for Dinamo Zagreb - following in his father's footsteps.
Dear Boris, I wish you all the best for your 50th birthday! Stay healthy and celebrate.
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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