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

crop_imago1071437261.jpg
Bayer 04 - 18.01.2026

AFCON blog: Senegal win the tournament

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...

Show more
Gruppenfoto vor dem Hotel
Women - 18.01.2026

‘Focus on attacking moves’: Women finish winter training camp in the Algarve

After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.

Show more
Werkself nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 18.01.2026

Werkself review #TSGB04: ‘Every opportunity to be more effective’

"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.

Show more
Werkself edged out 1-0 at Hoffenheim | 18th matchday
Werkself-TV - 17.01.2026

TV highlights of 0-1 loss at TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-1 loss at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 18 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Show more
Ibrahim Maza
Bundesliga - 17.01.2026

Werkself edged out 1-0 at Hoffenheim

No points in the Kraichgau: the Werkself lost 1-0 away to top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga Matchday 18. Wouter Burger scored the only goal with a free kick in the ninth minute. In an uneventful contest, the Werkself tried hard to find an equaliser but were repeatedly thwarted.

Show more