Match of the month I: From a dream – First the Bökelberg, then TV
Two dreams…
1996/97: First the Bökelberg, then TV
A week after the home win against Werder Bremen in the 1996 – 97 season, the Werkself head to the Bökelberg in Mönchengladbach. With five games to play, there is still the chance of a first league title with a three-point gap to league leaders Bayern Munich and a seven-goals worse goal difference. The Werkself get off to a flying start at that legendary stadium: Niko Kovac puts the visitors ahead after 40 seconds. With aggressive in challenges and full motivation, the Werkself have Gladbach on the ropes in the first half and they lead 2-0 at half-time with the second goal scored by Ulf Kirsten. Borussia pressed our team back into their own half after the restart. The hosts pull a goal back on 65 minutes and then, to the dismay of all Leverkusen players, the equaliser comes in the last minute of the game.
The next day all the Bayer 04 players are sitting in front of the TV watching the Munich derby between 1860 and FC Bayern. With the score at 2-2, the Bayern player Christian Ziege is shown a second yellow card and 1860 go 3-2 up on 82 minutes through Jörg Böhme. Lothar Matthäus is sent off a minute later again with a second yellow card for FC Bayern. However, Carsten Jancker nets the leveller for the nine men on 88 minutes.
For me, that is still the crucial matchday in the title race as a win against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the same time as a deserved defeat for FC Bayern against 1860 Munich would have put us level on points with the league leaders. Whether that would have been enough in the end is debatable but the chances would have been greater. The 4-0 defeat in the derby at FC Köln on matchday 33 finally settled matters and Bayern were the champions of Germany. We were left with second place and a slot in the Champions League qualifiers, which saw us progress in August after two games against Dinamo Tbilisi. In the final home game of the season against VfL Bochum, I was able to make Bundesliga appearance 399 and for me it was my best season at Bayer 04.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2026
Birthday boy of the month 1: Michael Ballack turns 50
Michael Ballack was born on 26 September 1976 in Görlitz, in what was then East Germany. His talent for football became apparent at an early age. After his family moved to Karl-Marx-Stadt – now Chemnitz – he began playing football for BSG Motor ‘Fritz Heckert’ Karl-Marx-Stadt, where he steadily developed his skills. From Year 7 onwards, he attended the Children’s and Youth Sports School and received systematic sporting support, which, in 1988 – due to his growing skill as a player – led to a move to FC Karl-Marx-Stadt. At the age of 16, he had to take a six-month break due to growth problems, but after that, Michael was unstoppable.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2026
Birthday Boy of the Month 2: Zé Elias turns 50
José Elias Moedim Júnior, known as Zé Elias, was born on 25 September 1976 in São Paulo. He received his football training at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, or Corinthians for short, and was promoted to the first team at the age of just 17. PSV Eindhoven had already taken notice of him by this stage, but the move to Europe was still too early for him. The tenacious defensive midfielder established himself in the first team over the following three years. With Corinthians, Zé Elias won the São Paulo City Championship and the Brazilian Cup in 1995. With his excellent vision, his determination and his assured ball control, he made a significant contribution to his team’s success.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2026
From the archives: 50 years ago – Kentschke goal not enough
In their second season in Bundesliga 2 North, the Werkself face Fortuna Köln at their home ground, the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, on matchday 7. Both teams are level on seven points, sitting eighth and ninth in the table.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2026
Goals of the month: From Szech to Chicharito
In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 from the month of September. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2026
History: 25 years ago – The 2001/02 treble runners-up season (September)
September gets off to a disastrous start, though not for the Werkself: the German national team, featuring Bayer 04 players Jens Nowotny, Michael Ballack and Oliver Neuville, suffer a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of England in a World Cup qualifier at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. Jens Nowotny, in particular, came in for sharp criticism. With this defeat, Germany’s direct qualification is now hanging in the balance.
Show more
