Back
1.05.2023Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month V: Thomas Zdebel turns 50

Thomas Zdebel was born in Katowice on 25 May 1973. He learned to play football there with GKS. At the age of 15 he moved to Düsseldorf with his parents and Germany became his second home. Via the youth set-up at Fortuna Düsseldorf he joined Rot-Weiss Essen. Thomas played for FC Köln for five years from 1992 where he took his first steps in the Bundesliga.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

The energetic and combative midfielder joined the Belgian champions Lierse SK in 1997 and faced the Werkself with the club – in their first ever Champions League match. He went on to play for Genclerbirligi Ankara, where he became a Poland international (14 caps), and in 2003/04 he signed for VfL Bochum. The midfield maestro became the captain at VfL.

crop_20090213_TSG_B04_0026.jpg

Following a dispute with coach Marcel Koller and a subsequent suspension, he moved under the Bayer Cross in January 2009. At Leverkusen, Thomas Zdebel became the back-up for the Chile international Arturo Vidal and he stayed for 18 months going on to play 12 Bundesliga matches for Bayer 04. At the end of his playing career he played for Alemannia Aachen in Bundesliga 2 for a season.

Today he lives in Bergisch-Gladbach with his wife and his two children. He started his coaching career there and that brought him to Leverkusen in 2019 as the assistant coach for the U17 team. His daughter Sofie is also a successful football player with the Werkself Women’s team in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga.


Thomas, I wish you all the best and another youth title for Bayer 04.

Related News

Von Eigl bis Calhanoglu | Tore des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Goals of the Month: From Eigl to Calhanoglu

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of October. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more
Vor 35 Jahren – Tabellenführung in München | Spiel des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Match of the month: 35 years ago – Top of the table in Munich, part two

The Werkself secured victory against Bayern Munich for the first time on 1 November 1986. On matchday 12, Bayer 04 beat the Bundesliga league leaders 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich and go top of the table.

Show more
Torben Hoffmann wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month five: Torben Hoffmann is 50

Torben Hoffman was born in Kiel on 27 October 1974. In his youth he played for TuS Schwarz-Weiß Elmschershagen. The qualified policeman joined Holstein Kiel in 1993. Two years later he moved on to VfB Lübeck in Bundesliga two. After relegation with Lübeck in 1997 he came to attention of SC Freiburg and they signed the defender. The team relegated from the Bundesliga went straight back up with Torben who moved under the Bayer Cross in 1999 after another year in the Bundesliga. However, he was unable to establish himself at Leverkusen making only sporadic appearances and he was rarely in the starting XI. He played in a total of 30 games for the Werkself.

Show more
Thomas Reichenberger wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month four: Thomas Reichenberger is 50

Thomas ‘Thommy’ Reichenberger was born in Bad Kreuznach on 14 October 1974. The son of a former Bundesliga player – his father Max made 38 Bundesliga appearances for 1860 Munich – played for Eintracht Bad Kreuznach as a youth player before moving up to the first team.

Show more
Manfred Pomp wird 60 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month three: Manfred Pomp is 60

Manfred ‘Manni’ Pomp was born in Aachen on 25 October 1964. His first football club was the Aachen police sports club (PSV) but he signed for Alemannia Aachen after a year.

Show more