Birthday boy of the month: Klaus Bruckmann turns 70

In the summer of 1977 he signed for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Bundesliga 2 where his former youth coach Willibert Kremer was now the head coach. The move proved to be a stroke of good luck. Klaus Bruckmann became a regular first choice in the team and at the same time completed a training course at Bayer AG. He made 75 appearances for the Werkself in Bundesliga 2 and scored 19 goals. He was promoted to the Bundesliga with Bayer 04 in the 1978/79 season.

He was a key part of Bayer 04 in the following years and played in 118 Bundesliga games. Bruckmann only scored five goals but one was really special: When the first derby was played at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 15 September 1979, Klaus Bruckmann opened the scoring with a wonderful header from a Dieter Herzog cross on 71 minutes. The FC Köln and Germany keeper at the time Toni Schumacher was helpless. The game unfortunately ended in a draw but Klaus Bruckmann will always remain the first player to score a Bundesliga goal for Bayer 04 against FC Köln.

He ended his professional playing career at Bayer 04 after the 1983/84 season but did play for the second team for a season as he focused on his work at Bayer AG.

Dear Klaus, I wish you all the best on your 70th birthday. Stay healthy and have a great day!