Back
1.07.2021Bayer 04

History: Professional contracts at Leverkusen

On 5 June 1949, the Western Germany Football Association decided to introduce professional contracts for players. Every club then had to make their own decision: professional or amateur. Full-time professional football was initially rejected but the first step was taken in the direction of players on professional contracts. A contract player was allowed to earn a maximum of 320 Deutschmarks a month but everybody knew the good players could earn up to 800 Deutschmarks.
1940_Burghof_1.jpg

There was a big debate in Leverkusen and the half-yearly general meeting was brought forward. On Monday 18 July 1949, the big decision was taken in the Burghof on Rathenaustraße. The club members voted to introduce professional contracts by an overwhelming majority with only four votes against – the football section was then made up of professional players and amateurs.

1940_Burghof_2.jpg

 

The Bayer 04 Leverkusen first team were playing in the Second Oberliga West at the time. All the players now received a monthly salary from the club as well as from their employers – that was mostly the Bayer works. A week in the life of a professional at Bayer 04 in 1949 looked like this: Work every weekday, training on Tuesday and Thursday from 6 o'clock in the evening and on Sunday there was a league match. Depending on the result of the game: Slaps on the back or insults at work. The men played in front of their workmates every Sunday. And they were expected to give their all as they were being paid for it even though the monthly payments would hardly raise a smile today. Key performers earned 200 Deutschmarks a month at Bayer 04 plus expenses of ten Deutschmarks per match.

The decision taken at the Burghof in July 1949 was the starting shot for our Bayer 04 as we know it today.

 

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.

Show more
18. Juni 1950
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.

Show more
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.

Show more
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.

Show more
Bayer 04 im Jahr 1964
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.

Show more