Birthday boy of the month: Carsten Ramelow turns 50

He moves under the Bayer Cross in the winter of 1996 and quickly develops into a hard-working defensive midfielder doing the dirty work whose qualities are only fully appreciated by the fans when he is not in the starting line-up or unavailable due to injury. Over the years, Calle becomes a fan favourite and plays a key role in the successes for Bayer 04 from 1996 to 2008 at the end of his career. He never wins a trophy but Calle is four times a runner-up with Bayer 04 in the league, loses the DFB-Pokal final with Bayer 04 against Schalke 04 in 2002, and the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the same year when he leads the Werkself out as captain following the serious injury to Jens Nowotny. Calle clocks up a total of 430 appearances for Bayer 04 and scores 31 goals along the way. He is named a Bayer 04 honorary captain at the end of his career in 2008.

He wins 46 international caps with Germany. He plays for his country at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea including in the 2-0 defeat in the final against Brazil. In addition to Ramelow, the team under the boss Rudi Völler also includes his Leverkusen teammates Oliver Neuville and Bernd Schneider in the starting XI.

Calle now lives in Kürten-Bechen and is still sporadically involved with football. He is one of two vice presidents of the VDV, the association of professional football players, that represents the interests of their members in dealings with associations, clubs, agents and journalists and also looks after the players away from the football pitch. When time and his knee permit, he still plays for our Veterans team although it has become less and less frequent over the years.

Dear Calle, all the best on your 50^th birthday. Celebrate with your family and above all: Stay healthy!

HERE is an in-depth profile on Carsten Ramelow at bayer04.de.