1.03.2021Bayer 04

From the archives: The race for the Regional League title

From the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, there were five Regional Leagues below the top flight, and our team was bobbing around in the lower reaches in the early years. Coach Theo Kirchberg was able to welcome seven new players to the start of training in 1967, while nine players left the club. With this completely revamped squad, consisting of 13 outfield players and two goalkeepers, they kicked off the season. And Bayer 04 were top of the table from the start.

In March 1968, Bayer 04 had two big games in a week against Rot-Weiß Essen and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, who were second and third in the table. Both matches were lost but the season ended for the Werkself with a surprise league title in the Regionalliga West and Bundesliga promotion play-offs. For some it was unfortunate, and for others it was 'Thank God', that Bayer 04 did not get promoted. But it was the first time the team with the cross on their shirts knocked on the door of the Bundesliga. In this video you can see action from the match against Essen and allow yourself to be transported back into the past. Below is a link to TV-highlights from the game against RWO.

Images from the game against Essen:

Images from the game against Oberhausen:

Related News

Schnix, der „weiße Brasilianer“ | Legende des Monats Juni

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2025

Legends: Schnix, the ‘white Brazilian’

Bernd Schneider, born in Jena on 17 November 1973, spent his early years in the German Democratic Republic. He took his first steps in football at the two Jena clubs BSG Aufbau and FC Carl Zeiss, the biggest club in his hometown. He played in the second division for six years in the 90s. Bernd Schneider stood out as an accomplished dribbler with his experience from street football always evident. His nickname Schnix comes from the Thuringian dialect: ‘Schnixeln’ is a synonym for dribbling, being able to control the ball. After Jena were relegated in 1998, Schnix went in the opposite direction. Newly promoted Eintracht Frankfurt brought into the Bundesliga. He spent a year there.

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2025

From the archives: 75 years ago – First friendly against FC Köln

18 June 1950 saw a friendly match for FC Köln, formed from the merger of two clubs in February 1948, against the Werkself at the Stadion Am Stadtpark. The two teams had already faced each other in May 1949 as winners of the Rhine district leagues in the final for promotion to the Oberliga West. The new club from Cologne came out on top in the two games and were promoted.

Vor 40 Jahren – Letzter Spieltag | Spiel des Monats Juni

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2025

Match of the month: 40 years ago – Final matchday

In a messed-up season in 1984/85 everybody is happy that the battle against relegation is over before the final matchday. The visitors are UEFA Cup contenders SV Waldhof Mannheim in front of a sparse 6,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Waldhof lads under their coach Klaus Schlappner are the surprise packet of the season. In their second campaign in the Bundesliga, the team from Mannheim are fifth on 35 points (with two points for a win back then) ahead of the game in Leverkusen and in a UEFA Cup qualifying spot. Two points behind them are Bayer 05 Uerdingen and Hamburg SV.

Tranquillo Barnetta wird 40 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

Birthday boy of the month: Tranquillo Barnetta turns 40

Tranquillo Barnetta was born in St. Gallen in Switzerland on 22 May 1985. Quillo, as he was called in the football world, has Italian roots. His great-grandfather emigrated from Italy to the east of Switzerland. Quillo was interested in football early on and he played for the St. Gallen club FC Rotmonten from the age of six. He joined his favourite club FC St. Gallen at the age of 11. There he became a youth international. He won the European Championships with his teammates in the Switzerland U17 team in 2002. The youngsters from Switzerland beat France 4-2 on penalties in the final to become U17 European champions.

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2025

From the archives: 60 years ago – The big worry

Since the establishment of the Bundesliga on 28 July 1962 for the 1963/64 season, there have been five Regional Leagues: North, Berlin, West, South-west and South. The champions of those five leagues qualified directly for promotion play-offs that were played in two groups of four teams. That included the two second-placed teams in the West and South-west Regional Leagues. The two runners-up from the North and the South played a qualifier for the eighth place in the promotion games.