He moved under the Bayer Cross in the summer of 1949 where he could combine his passion for football with earning money. Bayer AG offered him a job. So Bubi, as his teammates called him, moved to the Rhineland where he lived in a terraced house in Köln-Flittard.
He made 135 appearances and scored 35 goals in his seven years at the Werkself. High points during his time under the Cross were the long-awaited promotion to the First Oberliga West in 1951 and third place in that league in 1954/55. Bayer 04 were relegated a year later but he was only able to play for his team again three times. A persistent knee injury forced him to give up his playing career at the age of 31.
Nevertheless, he maintained his connection to his club in the following years where he coached Werkself youth teams and also tried it out as a coach for different amateur teams in the area. He regularly watched Werkself games in his advancing years. And he was often seen at training sessions as well.
Bubi Becks passed away on 17 April 2014, after a week in hospital, at the age of 89. The Bayer 04 legend had been honoured by the club seven days previously for 65 years of membership. He would have been 100 years old on 12 March.
Here at Bayer 04, we will never forget Bubi Becks!
