History: A memorable day
The Ulrich Haberland Stadium opened on 2 August 1958 and it was a ground met the highest and most up-to-date requirements. It was built in record time considering the poor weather conditions in 1957 and 1958.
Laying the pitch, which involved planting ready-made turf from the Netherlands, saved nine months – time that would better have been spent installing a better drainage system as that failed in a friendly in November 1958. The pitch was in such a poor state that they had to return to the Stadtpark at the end of the 1958/59 season. But nobody predicted that in August 1958.
opening match against Düsseldorf
The stands fill up with spectators from four o'clock and they are entertained by a brass band from the Bayer AG factories. To make it easier to find seats, the individual blocks are painted in the colour of the match tickets and not ordered by letters and numbers. At ten to five, Dr Fritz Jacobi, the chairman of Bayer 04, gives a speech and then receives a key from the architect and construction manager Viktor Calles in a symbolic handover.
The main event of the inauguration is the friendly between Bayer 04 and Oberliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf. In front of 11,000 spectators, Fortuna win 3-0 with the Bayer team missing lots of chances. The first goalscorer at the new Ulrich Haberland Stadium is a certain Jupp Derwall who went on to be the Germany coach and manager at Galatasaray where he won the Turkish league in 1987. At the end of the day the newspapers were positive and highlighted the special atmosphere at the new Bayer ground.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026
Birthday boy of the month: Hans Sarpei turns 50
Hans Sarpei was born on 28 June 1976 in Tema, Ghana, and came to Germany with his parents at the age of three, where he grew up in Cologne. Even before he was born, his mother and father worked in Hamburg in the import-export sector. There they met an older man who introduced them to German culture and supported them. Out of gratitude, Hans was later given his first name, although this man died before he was born. Hans comes from a sporting family; his older brother Edward and his nephews Hans Nunoo Sarpei and Kingsley Sarpei were or are also professional footballers.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026
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.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026
Match of the month: 50 years ago - All or nothing
After promotion to Bundesliga North 2 in the summer of 1975, Bayer 04 are fighting relegation just eight months later. The club expects full commitment from everyone in this precarious situation. Promotion coach Manfred Rummel is to give up his main job as a teacher at the Mülheim special school and become a full-time coach at Bayer 04. The coach, who is very popular with the team, does not see himself in a position to fulfil the club's request. Despite a 2-0 home win against SpVgg Erkenschwick, Manfred Rummel is put on gardening leave by "mutual agreement".
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026
History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (June)
Bayer 04, already been promoted to the 1st Oberliga West, played friendly after friendly in the second half of May 1951. And that continued throughout the following month.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026
Birthday boy of the month: Jacek Krzynowek turns 50
Jacek Krzynowek was born on 15 May 1976 in Kamiensk, Poland, and grew up as a typical country boy. He spent his childhood less in structured training sessions and more on simple pitches, where he spent hours playing football with older boys. He realised early on that he had exceptional shooting power and enormous stamina. But for a long time, he didn't appreciate just how much talent he had. While others dream of a great career, professional football initially seems like a distant world to him that he only knows from television.
Show more
