Hennecken was the driving force in the Bayer 04 attack with his dribbles and he was a feared free kick and penalty specialist; feared because of the strength of his shots, which brought him a second nickname alongside 'Fredi' of 'iron foot'. He was an important part of the war title-winning team in the Regional League West in 1968 and he also scored five times for his club in the Bundesliga play-offs in the same season. Hennecken also scored three goals in the dead rubber against Arminia Hannover.
You can watch the video of the highlights of that game. At the anniversary celebrations in Leverkusen in 2018 (50 years Regional League West league title, 30 years UEFA Cup win and 25 years DFB Cup win) he was able to witness the choreography alongside Bayer 04 legends Ulf Kirsten, Markus Happe, Franco Foda and Rüdiger Vollborn from the main stand at the BayArena. Fredi will be 80, a warhorse of our football history. Bayer 04 wish him many happy returns.
Claus-Dieter, known as ‘Pele’, Wollitz was born in Brakel on 19 July 1965 in Brakel. He earned the nickname of the Brazilian global super star at the age of six because he was able to the juggle the ball for a long time as a child. What was originally meant as a stunt would follow him all his life. Every football fan associates the name Wollwitz with his nickname: Pele.
Show moreJosé Roberto da Silva Junior, Zé Roberto for short, was born in the Brazilian city of São Paulo on 6 July 1974. He started playing football at the Pequeninos de Joquey soccer school at the age of seven. Via the club Palestra Sao Bernardo, the left footer moved on to the professional club Portuguesa de Desportos where he made his debut in 1994.
Show more25 years ago, the Bayer 04 U19 team under their two coaches Thomas Hörster and Dirk Dreher were Regional League West champions and thereby participants in the finals of the German championship.
Show moreAfter promotion to Bundesliga 2, the football boss Hermann Bacall had his hands full putting together a powerful team. For the first training session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 14 July 1975 there were nine new signings including five players who became regular starters in the team that won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979.
Show moreAfter the success of the previous year, the gymnastics and sports club Leverkusen hold the ‘Wiesdorfer Sportwoche’ week of sports for a second time (the city of Leverkusen is only founded in 1930). The week of sport started on Sunday, 12 July 1925. In the years before World War I there were municipal gymnastics and games festivals. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the club in 1924 the board and many helping hands started the week of sports. An internal municipal games festival developed into a national event which made a name for itself after a year particularly due to the relay element.
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