Hat-trick hero Fischer: ‘There are days when everything just comes off’

Saturday afternoon, 7 December 1991. In a 6-1 win against the team then bottom of the Bundesliga, SG Wattenscheid 09, Andreas 'Fischi' Fischer bagged a hat-trick. The Paderborn-born player was not a centre forward but instead he played the position of right-back. With his hat-trick, Fischi is to this day the only Leverkusen defender to achieve that feat in the Bundesliga.

Coach Saftig on Fischer: "poor finisher"

For his first goal of the match, Fischer received the ball from Ioan Lupescu. A Wattenscheid player then deflected the ball into the path of the Leverkusen defender allowing him to make it 2-0 with a right foot shot into the far corner (28). Fischer headed in the second from a Jorginho cross – 3-0 (34'). He netted his third in the style of a striker: Fischer ran through on the Wattenscheid keeper and slipped the ball past him into the net (4-1, 58'). And all that was in spite of that then coach Reinhard Saftig describing him as a "poor finisher" in the run-up to the clash with Wattenscheid.

But that was not all: Because Leverkusen's record goalscorer Ulf Kirsten also found the target after a three-month injury lay-off – with a brace – and Jupp Nehl scored too, the Werkself won the game 6-1 to notch up the biggest win in the Bundesliga up to then.

Fischer Interview: "incredible!"

Bayer 04 congratulate Andreas Fischer on the 30th anniversary of his historic hat-trick and join the 57-year-old in once again enjoying the memories.

Fischi, what are your memories of that day that was so special to you personally?

Fischer: Up until this morning, I didn't really register this anniversary but I had some time to be able to think back to then. (He laughs) You have to say that's unusual for a defender. And then I also set one up. Kirsten. There are days where everything just comes off!

How did that 7 December become Fischi's day?

Fischer: (He laughs) I always when forward as a rule set pieces because I'm so tall. But it is incredible that a lot went right for me on that day and that turned into three goals in one match.

Can you still visualise all three goals?

Fischer: I can't exactly remember the individual goals – except for the header. That was special for me even though I was in a striker when I played for the youth teams. Perhaps there was a bit of a final striker gene still with me that day that allow me to dance into the penalty area (he laughs).

How were the hat-trick and the record victory celebrated? Did you have to buy a round?

Fischer: If it was a really normal matchday for me then I would have had to donate a crate of beer a week (he laughs). Joking aside. Fortunately not. We had somebody in Ulf Kirsten who managed to do that much more often than I did.

The goals are HERE to watch and enjoy again.

The full video of the interview in German is HERE.