Back
15.12.2020Bayer 04

Episode 24: Dirk Heinen – Number 1 of crazy stories

Bayer 04 Leverkusen was the sporting home to Dirk Heinen for a total of 18 years. In the latest episode of the Werks11 Podcast, the former first choice keeper at the Werkself looks back with host Cedric Pick at a crazy career with lots of exiting and mad experiences including his formative time under the Bayer Cross…
Dirk_Heinen_Podcast.jpg

Guest on ‘You bet!’

Dirk Heinen, who won the DFB Cup with the Werkself in 1993 and the German league title with VfB Stuttgart in 2007, ended his playing career after the 2006/07 season and emigrated to Ireland with his family. During the 90-minute show, the current goalkeeping coach at Watford, talks about his life on the British Isles, the ‘Rhenisch mentality’ and lots of really extraordinary experiences from his football career - such as his appearance on the German version of You Bet! in 2006, a donner sauce in Turkey named after him and his unexpected but successful Bundesliga comeback at Arminia Bielefeld at the age of 37.

 

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Questions from Rüdiger Vollborn and Paulo Sergio

Heinen, who celebrated his 50th birthday at the beginning of December, also looks back at the 1995/96 season that almost ended in relegation with a ‘final’ against FC Kaiserslautern, talks about twists of fate, bad luck with injuries but also his special relationship with his long-term role model and later teammate and mentor Rüdiger Vollborn, who surprises our guest with a question as does his former Brazilian teammate Paulo Sergio.

This episode again provides exiting insights into the world of Bayer 04 (in German). Listen in!

Just subscribe to the Werks11 podcast to make sure you don’t miss any of the episodes – at Soundcloud, iTunes or Spotify

Related News

Women secure first win of the season against Union Berlin thanks to new trio | 2nd matchday
Werkself-TV - 15.09.2025

Women: TV-highlights of 3-2 win against Union Berlin

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-2 win against 1. FC Union Berlin on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26...

Show more
Kevin Brok
Youth - 15.09.2025

After Runge moves up to first team coaching staff: Brok becomes U19 head coach, Adam takes over U17s

The successor to Sergi Runge as head coach of the Bayer 04 U19 team has been decided. Following the Spaniard's appointment to Kasper Hjulmand's first team coaching staff, the current U17 head coach Kevin Brok (photo) will be responsible for the U19s until the end of the season. As a result, Benjamin Adam will also move up a year and will now coach the U17s instead of the U16s, also until the end of the season. The structure of the coaching and support staff will remain unchanged.

Show more
Begegnungslogos
Bundesliga - 15.09.2025

Tickets for away fixture at Mainz 05

The Werkself are away to Mainz 05 on matchday 7 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game at the MEWA ARENA is on Saturday, 18 October, with the kick-off at 15.30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.

Show more
Frauen-Training
Women - 13.09.2025

Bayer 04 Women want to be “dominant” in home opener against promoted Union Berlin

After opening the Google Pixel Bundesliga season in front of a German record crowd, Bayer 04 Women now play their first home game of 2025/26 as they host promoted Union Berlin at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Monday (kick-off: 6pm CEST) looking to turn their good performance in Munich into points this time.

Show more