Up until it was demolished in 2007 it was not the favourite building of Leverkusen residents but it had been used three times for Bayer 04 celebrations. Three times? Yes, three times: 1988, 1993 and 1997. There was a motorcade through the city centre both to celebrate the UEFA Cup win and the DFB Cup win. In 1988, in rain and with protesting pedestrians ("Why are cars driving through the centre of the city?!" "They won the UEFA Cup yesterday." I don't care two hoots, this is a pedestrian zone and cars aren't allowed here!"). And another time in brilliant sunshine in 1993. On both occasions, a stand was built up in front of the town hall and the fans were able to celebrate.
Following the party after the DFB Cup win in 1993, the team met up in a restaurant with a big terrace and a view of the town hall square. The fans were singing and dancing there and waiting for their heroes to come out so they could throw them into the town hall fountain one after the other when they left the restaurant. It was too dangerous for me. I grinned at the lads, took a run and I dived in myself. When we finished as league runners-up for the first time in 1997 we used the balcony of the town hall this time without the motorcade. We don't have a town hall balcony any more since it was demolished in 2007 but there are definitely enough alternative venues in Leverkusen where we can celebrate. The only thing missing is the title we've been waiting almost 30 years for.
Francoaldo Sena de Souza, known as Franca, was born on 2 March 1976 in Codó in north-eastern Brazil and is one of the best-known Brazilian football players of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His exceptional talent became apparent early on. He began his career at smaller Brazilian clubs before moving to the tradition-steeped São Paulo FC in 1996. There, Franca quickly developed into one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. His technique, goal-scoring instinct and agility delighted fans and pundits alike, and he scored numerous goals for the club over the years.
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Lars Bender was born on 27 April 1989 in Rosenheim and grew up with his twin brother Sven in a football-loving family. They began playing football in Brannenburg, a small community near Rosenheim. The twins joined Unterhaching to play for the U11 side, followed by a move to the U14s at 1860 Munich. There, Lars and Sven became German champions with the U17s, skipped the Lion's U19s and were directly part of the 1860 Munich first and second team squads.
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In this video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of March . It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
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Bayer 04 had their backs to the wall after a 3-1 defeat in a rearranged match at FC Kaiserslautern on 17 March 1981. After a throw-in, which the linesman clearly indicated in favour of the Werkself, but which the Lauter team quickly took and the weak referee did not intervene, a dubious penalty was awarded. Lauter took advantage of this to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute. Finally, a shot by the home side, which did not cross the line, made it 3-1 and Bayer 04 had to go home from Betzenberg without any points.
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It was 4 March 1951 and Bayer 04 were five points ahead going into the decisive home game against second-placed SSV Wuppertal, who would merge with TSG Vohwinkel 80 to form Wuppertaler SV three years later. Bayer 04 press officer Heinz Nelles predicted a big matchday at the sports ground at the Stadtpark and recommends Bayer 04 fans to buy their tickets in advance from the usual ticket outlets, especially from Peter Haas at the Trinkhalle Rathaus. After a four-week injury lay-off, centre-forward Emil ‘Bubi’ Becks will be back for the first time. And when the gates to the Stadtpark are opened on Sunday, the spectators stream into the stadium. The windows of the houses on the neighbouring Walter-Nernst-Straße are also packed.
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