Back
1.04.2021Bayer 04

History: The promotion coach arrives

February 1976: After promotion to the Second Bundesliga North in the summer of 1975, Bayer 04 are battling relegation again just a month later. The club are expecting full commitment from everybody in this precarious situation.
19760410_Willibert_Kremer.jpg

Promotion coach Manfred Rummel is expected to give up his main profession as a teacher with civil service status at the special school in Mülheim to become the full-time coach at Bayer 04. However, the very popular coach feels unable to meet the demands of the club. In spite of a 2-0 win in the home game against SpVgg Erkenschwick, Manfred Rummel is sent on gardening leave by "mutual agreement."

19760410_Fred-Bockholt-Walter-Posner-Willi-Rehbach.jpg


The Yugoslav Radoslav Momirski Is appointed as his successor with a contract to the end of the season. He starts in Berlin with a 1-0 defeat against bottom club Spandauer SV. The situation at Bayer 04 does not improve by the end of March – Momirski is sacked after three defeats in succession.

A new man takes over the helm under the Bayer Cross on 5 April 1976: Willibert Kremer. He makes a winning start with a 2-1 home win against Westfalia Herne. The rest is history.

Related News

Wolfgang Vöge
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month I: Wolfgang ‘Wolle’ Vöge turns 70

Wolfgang Vöge was born on 15 September 1955 in Ahlen, Westphalia and he was the fourth of seven children of a miner. His father, Erich Vöge, was a football referee as well. At an early age, Wolle, as he was called by his friends and teammates, developed a great passion for football and was an enthusiastic fan of BVB. His first success in football was achieved in the amateur game at his hometown club of SV Ahlen. He scored 26 goals in the first season and he came to the attention of scouts. That led to his move to Borussia Dortmund in 1975.

Show more
Andreas Thom
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month III: Andreas ‘Andi’ Thom turns 60

Andreas Thom was born on 7 September 1965 in Rüdersdorf near Berlin in Brandenburg. Andreas displayed an exceptional talent on the ball even as a child. Early on, he joined the youth section at BFC Dynamo Berlin, one of the leading football clubs in the German Democratic Republic. There he received targeted, performance-oriented training as part of the GDR sports system. His talent, his vision and his technique led him to make his debut in the first team at BFC Dynamo at the age of 17.

Show more
Jens „Melle“ Melzig
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month II: Jens ‘Melle’ Melzig turns 60

Jens Melzig was born in Cottbus on 28 September 1965. Melle, as he was called at Leverkusen, started his playing career at his hometown club Energie Cottbus. As a young player there he soon stood out thanks to his strength in challenges and his ability to read the game. He was in the Energie Cottbus first team in 1984 and he played for the club in the GDR league and the Oberliga. With 144 appearances and twelve goals he became one of the big players in defence. He made a major contribution to the club during this period – as a strong-tackling central defender who also displayed leadership qualities.

Show more
Lucio
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Legends: Lucio, the Brazilian elemental force

Lucio, full name Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, was born on 8 May 1978 in Planaltina, a suburb of the Brazilian capital Brasília. He showed his passion for football even as a child. On the dusty streets of his neighbourhood he spent hours chasing the ball – often in bare feet like many Brazilian children. Despite the simple conditions he grew up in, his family always supported his dream of one day becoming a great football player. He made his first steps in club football at small local clubs before moving onto the youth set-up at the club Guará and later he singed for the big club Internacional Porto Alegre. Bayer 04 signed the internationally completely unknown defender from there in January 2000.

Show more
Admir Mehmedi
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Goals of the month: From Ökland to Mehmedi

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of September. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more