1.09.2025Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month I: Wolfgang ‘Wolle’ Vöge turns 70

Wolfgang Vöge was born on 15 September 1955 in Ahlen, Westphalia and he was the fourth of seven children of a miner. His father, Erich Vöge, was a football referee as well. At an early age, Wolle, as he was called by his friends and teammates, developed a great passion for football and was an enthusiastic fan of BVB. His first success in football was achieved in the amateur game at his hometown club of SV Ahlen. He scored 26 goals in the first season and he came to the attention of scouts. That led to his move to Borussia Dortmund in 1975.

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four years as an outside right at the Werkself

Wolfgang made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga 2 but he gained promotion with the club to the Bundesliga straightaway. Over several seasons he established himself as a fast right-winger. He joined Bayer 04 in the summer of 1980 and over the next four years he was part of the team that established our club in the Bundesliga. In 125 Bundesliga games he scored 24 goals, which he usually celebrated with outstretched arms. He made a total of 135 appearances for Bayer 04.

career ends in switzerland

Wolfgang went to Switzerland in 1984 where he played for a number of clubs. He started at FC Lugano, where he scored an impressive 29 goals in National League B and he was the top goalscorer in the league. After that he played for FC Winterthur and finally for FC Zürich where he ended his playing career due to a serious crucial ligament injury.

After he stopped playing, the father of three children started a second career as a football agent. He founded IFM Sportmanagement GmbH in Winterthur in Switzerland and in the late 1980s and early 1990s he was one the first professional football players agents in Europe. Thanks to his long years of experience at a professional level, his language knowledge and his coaching badge he was involved in numerous transfers including Germany internationals going to Italy.

Dear Wolle, I wish you many happy returns on your 70th birthday!

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