St. Nicholas Day 1996, a Friday: Bayer 04 are the league leaders when they travel to the previously unbeaten at home newcomers and fifth-placed VfL Bochum. A week after the terrific home win in the derby, the Werkself are solid in defence and put VfL, coached by the future Bayer 04 boss Klaus Toppmöller, under heavy pressure with their pressing. After a deserved opener from Ulf Kirsten on 18 minutes, Bochum are awarded a disputed penalty that Thomas Stickroth converted to equalise. The game threatens to turn round with Bochum having two really good goalscoring opportunities before half-time.
Bayer 04 regain the upper hand after the restart, retake the lead and have the game under control after a red card is shown to the Bochum player Kracht. With 89 minutes played, a wonderful strike from a free-kick by Dariusz Wosz levels the scores at 2-2 and stops Bayer 04 being top of the table at the end of the first half of the season. The Werkself drop two points that, as we know today, will be sorely missed at the end of the campaign.
HERE are TV highlights of the clash in Bochum.
Klaus Toppmöller is the Bayer 04 coach five years later and he has taken his team to the top of the table. On 8 December, four days after a brilliant 3-0 home win against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League, FC Nürnberg under coach Klaus Augenthaler visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
As so often in that season, the Werkself had to go behind, and even twice this time, before waking up. The match ended in a hard-fought 4-2 home win with top spot maintained. Despite two away defeats in Berlin and Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 are top of the league at the halfway stage and then at Christmas because Borussia Dortmund can only manage to draw twice. Here too: Today we know what a point in these two games would have brought.
Peter Zanter was born on 11 November 1965 in Wermelskirchen in the Rhineland. His passion for football was evident from an early age: As a child, he played enthusiastically for the youth teams at SV Dabringhausen and SV Wermelskirchen. His ability and discipline did not go undetected for long - and he joined the youth section at Bayer 04 at a young age.
Show more
Boris Zivkovic was born on 15 November 1975 in the Bosnian town of Zivinice, which is now part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played for FK Sarajevo at a young age. However, his youth was characterised by the turmoil of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. At the age of just 17, he was also called up and took part in the fighting - a fate shared by many young men of his generation.
Show more
For once, this is going to be about me. About my path into football, my years as a goalkeeper at Bayer 04 and my ‘career after my career’ at this great club. So, come with me on a little journey through time...
Show more
It is 1 November 1985, a Friday evening, floodlights on. The leaders Werder Bremen with their coach Otto Rehhagel come to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. 15,000 spectators want to watch this top match, as the Werkself, with their new coach Erich Ribbeck, are in fourth place in the table, just five points behind the leaders.
Show more
In the video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of November. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
Show more
