1.04.2025Bayer 04

Match of the month: 30 years ago – coach sacked overnight

Following the Hinrunde in the 1994/95 season, the Werkself are eighth in the table on 20 points and just just two behind a UEFA Cup spot, albeit eight points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund. The Ulrich Haberland Stadium is regularly sold out as, alongside Bernd Schuster, Rudi Völler is the second big draw under the Bayer Cross since August 1994. However, the performances in the Bundesliga are mixed. But Bayer 04 are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup after wins against PSV Eindhoven, Honved and GKS Katowice.

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After the winter break, the Black and Reds only pick up two points out of a possible 14 in seven games. Bayer 04 do win 3-0 away to Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion but all the other games end in defeat. But in the UEFA Cup the Werkself blow away the French league leaders and later champions FC Nantes. A 5-1 win against the French side and a 0-0 draw in the second leg puts Bayer 04 in the semi-finals of the European competition.

The first leg against AC Parma at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is on 4 April 1995. After a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to a goal from the Brazilian Paulo Sergio, Bayer 04 go to 2-1 down shortly after the start of the second half with a double whammy from the Italians. That is the final score and the chances of going through look to be slim.

Three days later, we travel as usual to Haus Gravenberg to prepare a day before the game. After a meal together every player goes to their room. And also, as is always the case before a match, the squad including coach Dragoslav Stepanovic and assistant coach Peter Hermann have a night cap together in the evening. The coach holds a short motivational speech ahead of the forthcoming game against Borussia Mönchengladbach and then everybody goes to bed.

The next morning we go to breakfast and don't have a coach any more. After our drink in the evening, club boss Reiner Calmund comes the hotel, has a conversation with Dragoslav Stepanovic and after this discussion decides to let him go.

Peter Hermann is now the caretaker coach for the Bundesliga home league game on 8 April 1995. He plays Jupp Nehl as a sweeper for the first time. He is sent off after eight minutes and the ten remaining players battle against another defeat and the downward trend.

Despite being a man down, Bayer 04 are the better side and take the lead on 28 minutes through Andreas Thom. The Werkself gives little away before half-time and defend the lead. The Gladbach player Joachim Stadler scores an own goal on 62 minutes and, with this 2-0 cushion, Bayer 04 sit back very deep in their own half but are able to pose a threat in counter-attacks again and again.

It's tight again when Heiko Herrlich pulls a goal back for Borussia Mönchengladbach on 85 minutes. But Paulo Sergio scores the final goal at 3-1 in the last minute. The downward trend is stopped with the arrival of new coach Erich Ribbeck even though the UEFA Cup semi-final at AC Parma ends in a 3-0 defeat and the season ends with finish in seventh place.

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