1.09.2025Bayer 04

From the archives: 50 years ago – First hat-trick in Bundesliga 2 North

The Werkself made an indifferent start after promotion to Bundesliga 2 North. The team led by coach Manfred Rummel only had four points after five games. Bayer 04 are in sixteenth place with a home win against the Berlin club Spandauer SV and two draws against Fortuna Köln and Union Solingen. On matchday six, eleventh-placed Preußen Münster are the visitors at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 7 September 1975 with 4,200 fans watching the game.

And they see the Werkself play with freedom. The hosts did need two penalties that Willi Rehbach confidently converted. And a goal pulled back by Preußen failed to put off the team led by midfield maestro Peter Surbach.

Wilfried Klinge is man of the match

Wilfried Klinge scores twice after the restart. Both times he heads home floated crosses from Norbert Ziegler on 48 and 57 minutes. On the back of this 4-1 lead, Bayer 04 play with freedom and create chance after chance. Substitute Norbert Sobbe hits the post on 77 minutes. Klinge nets his third goal on 83 minutes with build-up play from Gerd Kentschke – it is the first hat-trick scored by a Bayer 04 player in Bundesliga 2 North.

The impressive solo run by the young Norbert Ziegler leads to a convincing and, according to Kicker, "also a 6-1 victory deserved by that margin." The best game of the season up to that point was an expression of a successful mix: Here the stalwart "old boys" Fred Bockholt, Willi Rehbach, Gerd Kentschke and Matthias Hemmersbach, there the commitment and panache of young lads like Norbert Ziegler and Wilfried Klinge. The Bayer 04 fans go home happy and look to the future with confidence. The start by the newly promoted club in their first season in the Bundesliga 2 North is very promising.

Related News

Jacek Krzynowek wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Birthday boy of the month: Jacek Krzynowek turns 50

Jacek Krzynowek was born on 15 May 1976 in Kamiensk, Poland, and grew up as a typical country boy. He spent his childhood less in structured training sessions and more on simple pitches, where he spent hours playing football with older boys. He realised early on that he had exceptional shooting power and enormous stamina. But for a long time, he didn't appreciate just how much talent he had. While others dream of a great career, professional football initially seems like a distant world to him that he only knows from television.

Carsten Ramelow – Der Dauer(b)renner | Legende des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Legend: Carsten Ramelow - The perennial favourite

Carsten ‘Calle’ Ramelow was born in Berlin on 20 March 1974. He began his football career in the youth teams at Tasmania 73, Tennis Borussia, SC Siemensstadt and, last but not least, Hertha Berlin. It was here that he reached the DFB Pokal final in 1993 with the Hertha Bubis team, the amateur team at Hertha Berlin, against his future employer Bayer 04 Leverkusen. But even he was unable to prevent the Werkself's 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Ulf Kirsten.

Vor 30 Jahren – Rettung in letzter Sekunde | Spiel des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Match of the month: 30 years ago - Last-minute rescue

The 1995/1996 season brought some innovations. For the first time, each player was given a squad number with his name printed on the back of the jersey. For the first time, coaches were allowed to make three substitutions and for the first time, three points are awarded for a win. And for the first time, I am no longer my team's number 1. I wear it on my back, but Dirk Heinen has taken over me in goal. So at first I sat on the bench a bit offended, but in the Rückrunde I realised I also had to make my contribution to the success of a team.

Von Klimke bis Wirtz | Tore des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Goals of the month: From Klimke to Wirtz

In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 from the month of May. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (May)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen, promoted to the Oberliga West, welcome VfL 99 Köln for the last game of a successful season. This time, the crowd of just 2,000 spectators saw more of a friendly than a championship match. Little fight, little goalmouth action and few moves in midfield to warm the hearts of the spectators. It takes a corner to give Bayer 04 the lead. Peter Röger is on hand with his head and nods home on 43 minutes for the half-time lead. When Karl-Heinz Spikofski increased the lead to 2-0 a quarter of an hour after the restart, the result was settled. The team from Cologne were able to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the final minute, but in the end the spectators went home looking forward to the first season for a Bayer 04 team in Oberliga West 1.