1.06.2026Bayer 04

From the archives: 70 years ago - A coach quits

On 3 June 1953, Hans-Josef (‘Sepp’) Kretschmann became the fifth coach in the history of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Born in Allenstein, East Prussia, on 21 March 1902, the football coach first studied to become a teacher before later switching to football. He took over the Werkself from Franz Strehle, under whom the team twice managed to stay in the 1st Oberliga West. However, Strehle did not extend his contract in Leverkusen after these two very successful years.

Sepp Kretschmann und Hans Bochniak

Under Sepp Kretschmann, Bayer 04 got off to a tough start in the 1953/54 season - after eight games, the Werkself were in a relegation place. But his work bore fruit in the second half of the season. Kretschmann got his team into excellent shape. In the 1954/55 season, Bayer 04 narrowly missed out on participation in the final round of the German championship. The board and coach agreed to extend his contract by two years.

bad luck with injuries and relegation

Then came the 1955/56 season: When centre-forward and marksman Fritz Tiede, who scored seven goals in just five games, and B international Waldemar Langwagen, who was unable to play for a longer period due to health reasons, coach Kretschmann had to do without two key forwards for almost the entire season. In addition, a player was injured so badly in the first ten (!) minutes that he has to leave the pitch. There were no substitutions at that time, so Bayer 04 regularly played with a man down and were bottom of the table from the start of the season.

In the end, Bayer 04 were relegated. Coach Kretschmann said that he was very keen to get his team promoted again, but only on one condition: He alone is responsible for team selection and training. The Bayer 04 board, who regularly interfered in personnel decisions and training during the relegation season, were unwilling to agree to this demand. So Sepp Kretschmann drew a conclusion: He became the first coach in the history of Bayer 04 to terminate his contract of his own accord and move on.

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