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1.03.2021Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month: Fredi Hennecken

Friedhelm 'Fredi' Hennecken, born 27 March 1941, joined Bayer 04 in 1966 as a 25-year-old from TuS Elsenroth. He wore the shirt with the cross on the chest in 179 matches in the Regional League West and he scored 54 goals.

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.

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

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.

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