Back
1.05.2023Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month III: Peter Szech – unforgotten

Peter Szech was born in Essen on 26 May 1953. He started his career as a striker there. After three years at Schwarz-Weiss Essen he joined VfR Neuss in 1975 where he stood out with his ability to score. Bayer 04 brought him under the Bayer Cross in 1978 and he played a significant part in promotion to the Bundesliga in his first season with 15 goals.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

In his four years at Leverkusen he was one of the regular starters making a total of 140 appearances and scoring 40 goals along the way. Older Bayer 04 fans may well particularly remember his two goals in the play-off match against Kickers Offenbach at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium in 1982. After that season, Peter Szech joined Bayer 05 Uerdingen and he ended his playing career in 1984 in his hometown at Rot-Weiss Essen.

1979-05-12_84_Minute_3_3_Bruecken_2_schiesst_den_Ausgleich_Juergen_Gelsdorf_Peter_Szech_jubeln.jpg

In the mid-1990s he moved with his family to a farm in Thailand. In February 2014 he was involved in an accident on his motorbike there and was flown to Germany where he underwent an operation in Neuss. He passed away on 3 March 2014 as a result of his serious injuries.

Peter Szech would have been 70 on 26 May. I take this opportunity to remember an important player in Bayer 04's history.

Related News

Jacek Krzynowek wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Birthday boy of the month: Jacek Krzynowek turns 50

Jacek Krzynowek was born on 15 May 1976 in Kamiensk, Poland, and grew up as a typical country boy. He spent his childhood less in structured training sessions and more on simple pitches, where he spent hours playing football with older boys. He realised early on that he had exceptional shooting power and enormous stamina. But for a long time, he didn't appreciate just how much talent he had. While others dream of a great career, professional football initially seems like a distant world to him that he only knows from television.

Show more
Carsten Ramelow – Der Dauer(b)renner | Legende des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Legend: Carsten Ramelow - The perennial favourite

Carsten ‘Calle’ Ramelow was born in Berlin on 20 March 1974. He began his football career in the youth teams at Tasmania 73, Tennis Borussia, SC Siemensstadt and, last but not least, Hertha Berlin. It was here that he reached the DFB Pokal final in 1993 with the Hertha Bubis team, the amateur team at Hertha Berlin, against his future employer Bayer 04 Leverkusen. But even he was unable to prevent the Werkself's 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Ulf Kirsten.

Show more
Vor 30 Jahren – Rettung in letzter Sekunde | Spiel des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Match of the month: 30 years ago - Last-minute rescue

The 1995/1996 season brought some innovations. For the first time, each player was given a squad number with his name printed on the back of the jersey. For the first time, coaches were allowed to make three substitutions and for the first time, three points are awarded for a win. And for the first time, I am no longer my team's number 1. I wear it on my back, but Dirk Heinen has taken over me in goal. So at first I sat on the bench a bit offended, but in the Rückrunde I realised I also had to make my contribution to the success of a team.

Show more
Von Klimke bis Wirtz | Tore des Monats Mai
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Goals of the month: From Klimke to Wirtz

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

Show more
Aufstiegsfeier im Bayer-Kasino 1951
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (May)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen, promoted to the Oberliga West, welcome VfL 99 Köln for the last game of a successful season. This time, the crowd of just 2,000 spectators saw more of a friendly than a championship match. Little fight, little goalmouth action and few moves in midfield to warm the hearts of the spectators. It takes a corner to give Bayer 04 the lead. Peter Röger is on hand with his head and nods home on 43 minutes for the half-time lead. When Karl-Heinz Spikofski increased the lead to 2-0 a quarter of an hour after the restart, the result was settled. The team from Cologne were able to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the final minute, but in the end the spectators went home looking forward to the first season for a Bayer 04 team in Oberliga West 1.

Show more