Back
1.10.2024Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month four: Thomas Reichenberger is 50

Thomas ‘Thommy’ Reichenberger was born in Bad Kreuznach on 14 October 1974. The son of a former Bundesliga player – his father Max made 38 Bundesliga appearances for 1860 Munich – played for Eintracht Bad Kreuznach as a youth player before moving up to the first team.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

After brief guest appearances for Hassia Bingen and SV Wehen the 1.74 metre tall but very quick centre forward joined the Bayer 04 second team in 1997 but he was also in the senior squad. In his first season under the Bayer Cross he scored 20 goals in 30 games in the Oberliga Nordrhein but only made his Bundesliga debut in the second year at Bayer 04. He came on as a substitute on 83 minutes on the second matchday in Freiburg.

He scored his first Bundesliga goal in his third game. On 85 minutes, six minutes after coming on, he scores the winner at 3-2 away to Eintracht Frankfurt after being 2-0 down. He pulls off the same trick again two weeks later – again six minutes after coming on this time on 53 minutes and he scores twice within a minute. He scores goals number six and seven for Bayer 04 on 59 and 60 minutes in an 8-2 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Thommy played 30 games for our team and scored five goals. As he very rarely played in his third season for the Werkself he moved on to league rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.

19981025_Thomas_Reichenberger.jpg

After playing for Energie Cottbus and KFC Uerdingen 05 he joined VfL Osnabrück where he settled down. In the next six years he became a crowd favourite and was always the top scorer for his team the exception of the last year. He ended his professional playing career in 2010 and became team manager of the first team also occasionally played for the VfL second team.

In 2014 he set up his own sports agency, organising children's football camps and events in around football.

Dear Thommy, Happy 50th birthday and stay healthy!

Related News

Zoltan Sebescen
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Birthday boy of the month: Zoltan Sebescen turns 50

Zoltan Sebescen was born on 1 October 1975 in Ehingen and he started playing football as a child. His talent stood out early on and he was accepted into the youth section at Stuttgarter Kickers in 1982. There he progressed through all the youth teams and continued to develop. His breakthrough in the men's game came in the mid-1990s, when he moved up to the Kickers first team squad. With his speed, dynamism and attacking drive, he soon made a name for himself beyond the region. He and his team were promoted from the Regional League South to Bundesliga 2 in 1996 and stayed in the league with Stuttgart for three years.

Show more
Jens Nowotny
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Legends: Jens ‘Jenne’ Nowotny

Jens Nowotny was born on 11 January 1974 in Malsch, Baden-Württemberg. As a youngster, he played for SV Spielberg and Germania Friedrichstal and later joined the youth section at Karlsruher SC. As a 15-year-old, he became an integral part of the DFB national youth set-up and played for all of the Germany junior teams. One highlight was an U15 international against England at Wembley.

Show more
Bayer 04 gegen Stuttgart am 24. Oktober 2015
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Match of the month: 10 years ago - Two memorable games within four days

It is Tuesday, 20 October 2015 - a Champions League night at the BayArena. The visitors: AS Roma. What awaits the spectators is a memorable football match full of drama, speed and emotion. The Werkself get off to a flying start and literally overrun the slightly favoured Italians in the early stages. The scoreline was 2-0 after just twenty minutes - both goals were scored by Mexico international Chicharito. Bayer 04 put the visitors under constant pressure with their aggressive pressing and bold attacking play and even had a chance to make it 3-0. Then the AS Roma captain Daniele De Rossi brought his team back into the game with a brace making it 2-2 at half-time.

Show more
Karim Bellarabi
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Goals of the month: From Vöge to Bellarabi

In the video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of October. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.

Show more
Bayer 04 1960/61
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

From the archives: 65 years ago - Pokal upset in Schlebusch

On 23 October 1960, a highly anticipated local derby took place in the DFB Pokal, which the team had to qualify for via the regional association cup competitions at the time: SV Schlebusch hosted the Werkself from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Around 2,000 spectators flocked to the "Am Bühl" stadium to watch the game kicking off at 3 pm.

Show more