Happy birthday! TSV chairman Klaus Beck turns 80

The lawyer and former head of senior management at Bayer AG became chairman of TSV Bayer 04 in 2003 following the death of his predecessor, Prof. Rudolf Casper. Prior to this, Klaus Beck had already been instrumental in supporting the intensive work of the board of management of the multi-sport club, which now has around 9,000 members, as deputy chairman since 1996 and took over the management of the basketball department in the same year.

As chairman of TSV Bayer 04, Beck has also been a member of the shareholders' committee of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH since 2003, which he chaired until 2007. The Werkself's double win and reaching the final of the UEFA Europa League are also highlights of his time on the shareholders' committee to date.

His more than two decades in office as TSV chairman have seen many historic sporting moments, including epee fencer Britta Heidemann's Olympic gold medal in Beijing 2008, para long jumper Markus Rehm's series of gold medals and many other world-class successes in Olympic and Paralympic sport.

SPONSOR OF YOUNG ATHLETES

Numerous infrastructural and conceptual projects have also been realised under Beck. These include the extensive renovation of the club's own fitness studio GoFit on Tannenbergstraße, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. The concept of youth-orientated elite sport following the reorganisation of Bayer AG's sports sponsorship in 2008 was also very well received and is still in place today.

The promotion of young talent is particularly close to the Leichlingen native's heart. It is fitting that the sports boarding school on Windthorststrasse, which is also attended by many talented Bayer 04 footballers, has been continuously developed, including the extensive expansion and renovation of the building last year.

The father of two grown-up children and grandfather of four grandchildren is spending his special day with his family. Happy birthday!