For years the training grounds and stadiums were not his only stomping grounds but also the A3 autobahn. "I went up and down it every day," explains Dieter Herzog. The reason for his commuting: Leaving his hometown and birthplace of Oberhausen was never an option for Herzog. Neither was his transfer from Fortuna Düsseldorf to the Werkself in 1976. The connection to his family, friends and acquaintances were simply too strong.
Herzog almost never travelled alone to training over all the years. Goalkeeper Fred Bockholt, his Leverkusen teammate back then, used to pick him up in Oberhausen on his way from Bottrop to Leverkusen. "We had an incredible amount of fun on those journeys," recalls Herzog with a smile on his face.
Dieter Herzog took his first steps in football in Sterkrade and he finally made the breakthrough at Fortuna Düsseldorf at the start of the 1970s after playing at Bottrop – alongside Bockholt – and Hamborn. From the 1971/72 season, he played every Bundesliga match for three seasons in succession. The man from Oberhausen became an established top-flight player in the North Rhine-Westphalia state capital. His qualities caught the attention of the Germany coach Helmut Schön.
Herzog, who was already 27 years old, made his full international debut in the spring of 1974. After two friendlies, the striker was in the squad for the 1974 World Cup in Germany. The rest of the story is well known: Germany won the World Cup and Herzog picked up his first and only title.
Two years after his great triumph, the now 75-year-old surprised German football two years later with his move to the second division club Bayer 04. The stalwart quickly became the boss and captain of the team and in his third year in Leverkusen he led the Black and Reds into the Bundesliga in 1979. Bayer 04 have remained there ever since – also thanks to Herzog.
When he ended his playing career in 1983 at the age of 37, he had made 83 Bundesliga appearances for the Werkself. The winger scored six goals. In the second division, Herzog played 110 games and scored 23 goals. Certainly his most important goal came in 1982 in the 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-off at Kickers Offenbach (second leg: 2-1).
At home in his four walls in Oberhausen, the beloved round leather ball was not the most popular subject for discussion in his early years. "The subject of football is taboo at home," revealed Dieter Herzog ahead of the 1974 World Cup. That will definitely have changed with the titles, goals and success for the World Cup winner and Leverkusen promotion hero in the following years…
You can learn more about Dieter Herzog in the second edition of the Werkself podcast.
The season card waiting list, introduced by Bayer 04 last season, is open to Bayer 04 Club members. Read on for further information.
Show moreOlá, Brasil! The Bayer 04 flight landed safely in Rio de Janeiro early on Tuesday morning local time. From the airport it was straight to the beach in immediate proximity to the team hotel where club legend Paulo Sergio welcomed the team. The first training session is on the agenda in the afternoon. Bayer04.de will provide a close-up report on the Werkself over the next ten days with one blog per day giving insights into the events on tour. Day one of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings are in local time).
Show moreThe Werkself training camp officially began early on Tuesday morning with the landing in Rio de Janeiro. Ahead of the first session in the afternoon local time, bayer04.de profiles the talented youngsters from the youth teams who have travelled to Brazil.
Show moreThe welcome in Brazil could not have been more fitting: Paulo Sergio, with a small Bayer 04 delegation, welcomed the Werkself to Rio de Janeiro on the beach in front of the team hotel on Tuesday morning local time. Under clear blue skies, players, coaches and staff joined together for a group photo and then it was off to the rooms and breakfast. Shortly after the Werkself arrived, club legend Paulo Sergio, who will accompany the Werkself over the coming days, talked bayer04.de about these emotional moments for him.
Show morePreparations for the 2025/26 season are in full swing with the new head coach Erik ten Hag working for the start of the season in the middle of August. After the timings for the first matchdays in the forthcoming Bundesliga season were confirmed a few days ago, we now provide information on the first sale phase for match tickets. The early booker phase, exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members, brings some changes. Read on for further information.
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