Back
1.01.2025Bayer 04

History: 50 years ago – Promotion season 1974/75 (January)

The new year 1975 starts with an away game at Frechen 20. On 5 January, the Werkself are struggling for an hour against a battling Frechen side. The Bayer team approach to the game is too sluggish and goalkeeper Hubert Makel expresses his anger loud and clear on the pitch. He criticises the players in front of him from behind and tries to get them going.
Bayer 04 im Januar 1975

The hosts tire after the hour mark and the team around midfielder Peter Surbach can finally get the upper hand. Manfred Schumann heads home the opening goal from a Hans-Werner Marx corner on 74 minutes. Manfred Vetter, who replaced Peter Litzinger on 66 minutes, makes it 2-0 with a powerful shot from 30 metres out six minutes later. And the former Frechen player Matthias Brücken seals the win on 88 minutes. At the end of the day, a convincing victory and a good start to 1975.

The Werkself are away to league leaders Bonner SC a week later. 5,000 spectators come to the big match at the Bonner Nord Park. Bayer 04 make an impressive start: The team under coach Manfred Rummel take the lead on 14 minutes with a shot from Peter Surbach from 16 metres out but the Bonner team responds aggressively. Urged on by their supporters, they besiege Hubert Makel's goal. But the hosts failed to score in Bayer 04 take the lead into half-time. It is the same story in the second half: on attack, Bayer 04 counter-attack skilfully. The referee is deceived by a dive from the former Bayer 04 youth player Karl Heinz Wöhler on 58 minutes. But Hubert Makel saves the penalty. But he his lucky a few minutes later when a shot hits the post but that does not hold on 72 minutes. A header against the bar bounces back onto his shoulder and into the net – 1-1. Gerd Kentschke has a big chance just before the final whistle but all in all it ends in a fair draw.

Bayer 04 im Januar 1975

The Bayer team are away again on 19 January. This time at BC Oberbruch-Heinsberg. The rearranged game from matchday 13 is watched by only 700 spectators who see the Werkself play good passing football but without the final finish. Manfred Vetter open the scoring in the second half on 63 minutes but the hosts reply with more aggression and energy. Leverkusen clear off the line twice. The deserved equaliser for the Oberbruch team comes on 83 minutes. The Werkself take just one point from the game.

Another rearranged game in the middle of the week this time at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. 1,200 spectators want to watch the night match for the Werkself against SG Eschweiler but the floodlights don't have the same stimulating effect on the Bayer team as so often before. Manfred Vetter again opens the scoring on eight minutes with a fine long-range shot but nothing goes right after that. There is uncertainty and misunderstanding in a surprising way and Eschweiler get their chances on goal. The visitors press hard for the equaliser in the second half. But centre-forward Manfred Schumann makes it 2-0 from a corner. Nevertheless, the Bayer game is still unsettled. The whistles from the fans are justified as "the Black and Reds look out of ideas and helpless and that was the reason for a dour football match" (Stadt-Anzeiger dated 23.01.1975). Two points are one in the end. That's the only thing that counts in that game.

The Werkself have another home game four days later. This time Godesberger FV are the visitors in front of 1,500 spectators. Not much goes right in the first half despite an early goal scored by Matthias Brücken (6’). But Manfred Schumann (47') and Matthias Brücken (48’) score two quick goals after the restart and the Werkself are moving the ball much better. Again it is Manfred Schumann who finds the back of the net on 57 minutes to make it 4-0. Matthias Brücken with goals number 15 and 16 of the season and another strike from Klaus Röhrig increase the scoreline to 7-0. The Werkself are one point behind league leaders SC Jülich 10 in second place at the end of January.

Related News

Zoltan Sebescen
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Birthday boy of the month: Zoltan Sebescen turns 50

Zoltan Sebescen was born on 1 October 1975 in Ehingen and he started playing football as a child. His talent stood out early on and he was accepted into the youth section at Stuttgarter Kickers in 1982. There he progressed through all the youth teams and continued to develop. His breakthrough in the men's game came in the mid-1990s, when he moved up to the Kickers first team squad. With his speed, dynamism and attacking drive, he soon made a name for himself beyond the region. He and his team were promoted from the Regional League South to Bundesliga 2 in 1996 and stayed in the league with Stuttgart for three years.

Show more
Jens Nowotny
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Legends: Jens ‘Jenne’ Nowotny

Jens Nowotny was born on 11 January 1974 in Malsch, Baden-Württemberg. As a youngster, he played for SV Spielberg and Germania Friedrichstal and later joined the youth section at Karlsruher SC. As a 15-year-old, he became an integral part of the DFB national youth set-up and played for all of the Germany junior teams. One highlight was an U15 international against England at Wembley.

Show more
Bayer 04 gegen Stuttgart am 24. Oktober 2015
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Match of the month: 10 years ago - Two memorable games within four days

It is Tuesday, 20 October 2015 - a Champions League night at the BayArena. The visitors: AS Roma. What awaits the spectators is a memorable football match full of drama, speed and emotion. The Werkself get off to a flying start and literally overrun the slightly favoured Italians in the early stages. The scoreline was 2-0 after just twenty minutes - both goals were scored by Mexico international Chicharito. Bayer 04 put the visitors under constant pressure with their aggressive pressing and bold attacking play and even had a chance to make it 3-0. Then the AS Roma captain Daniele De Rossi brought his team back into the game with a brace making it 2-2 at half-time.

Show more
Karim Bellarabi
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Goals of the month: From Vöge to Bellarabi

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

Show more
Bayer 04 1960/61
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

From the archives: 65 years ago - Pokal upset in Schlebusch

On 23 October 1960, a highly anticipated local derby took place in the DFB Pokal, which the team had to qualify for via the regional association cup competitions at the time: SV Schlebusch hosted the Werkself from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Around 2,000 spectators flocked to the "Am Bühl" stadium to watch the game kicking off at 3 pm.

Show more