1.02.2022Bayer 04

Miscellaneous: Willibert Kremer 15.10.1939 – 24.12.2021

Willibert Kremer was a child of the Bundesliga. Back in 1964, in its second year, he played for Hertha Berlin for a season. He then signed for MSV Duisburg where he made 91 Bundesliga appearances. After his playing career, he was assistant coach there and also coach of the U19s, who he took to the final of the German U19 championships in 1972. The title was secured with a 2-0 win against VfB Stuttgart. That team included Klaus Bruckmann who went on to be one of our promotion heroes in 1979.

As head coach of the senior team, Kremer leads MSV to the DFB Cup final in 1975 that ends in a 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. He comes to Leverkusen in April 1976 and puts together a team that secures surprising promotion to the Bundesliga with ease in 1979.

I first met Willibert Kremer at my trial at Leverkusen on 9 March 1981. Two days after the brilliant 3-0 win against Bayern (with three Ökland goals), he was sat in a car in pouring rain behind the goal on training pitch 1 with Reiner Calmund and general manager Heinz Heitmann. Assistant coach Gerd Kentschke shot ball after ball at my goal and I must have somehow done a good job. Willibert Kremer is also jointly responsible for my decision to sign for Leverkusen.

crop_19781979_Schulze_Kremer_Meul_Szech_Korth_Gniech.jpg

crop_19790811_FCB_B04_Trainer_Willibert_Kremer_imago08874986h.jpg

crop_19791201_S04_B04_Kentschke_Kremer_Heitmann_Dr_Grieser_Trzolek.jpg

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to know him properly as a coach as the situation under the Bayer Cross was so tense six months later that the club parted company with Kremer. His five plus years as coach at Leverkusen was over – only Theo Kirchberg’s seven years was longer for a head coach at Bayer 04.

The coach Kremer will always have his place in our history as the man that took Bayer 04 Leverkusen up to the Bundesliga. Willibert Kremer closed his eyes for the last time in the early hours of 24 December. We will never forget you, coach, rest in peace.

Related News

Hans Sarpei wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Juni

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026

Birthday boy of the month: Hans Sarpei turns 50

Hans Sarpei was born on 28 June 1976 in Tema, Ghana, and came to Germany with his parents at the age of three, where he grew up in Cologne. Even before he was born, his mother and father worked in Hamburg in the import-export sector. There they met an older man who introduced them to German culture and supported them. Out of gratitude, Hans was later given his first name, although this man died before he was born. Hans comes from a sporting family; his older brother Edward and his nephews Hans Nunoo Sarpei and Kingsley Sarpei were or are also professional footballers.

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026

From the archives: 70 years ago - A coach quits

On 3 June 1953, Hans-Josef (‘Sepp’) Kretschmann became the fifth coach in the history of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Born in Allenstein, East Prussia, on 21 March 1902, the football coach first studied to become a teacher before later switching to football. He took over the Werkself from Franz Strehle, under whom the team twice managed to stay in the 1st Oberliga West. However, Strehle did not extend his contract in Leverkusen after these two very successful years.

Heimspiel gegen Borussia Dortmund am 5. Juni 1976

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026

Match of the month: 50 years ago - All or nothing

After promotion to Bundesliga North 2 in the summer of 1975, Bayer 04 are fighting relegation just eight months later. The club expects full commitment from everyone in this precarious situation. Promotion coach Manfred Rummel is to give up his main job as a teacher at the Mülheim special school and become a full-time coach at Bayer 04. The coach, who is very popular with the team, does not see himself in a position to fulfil the club's request. Despite a 2-0 home win against SpVgg Erkenschwick, Manfred Rummel is put on gardening leave by "mutual agreement".

Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026

History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (June)

Bayer 04, already been promoted to the 1st Oberliga West, played friendly after friendly in the second half of May 1951. And that continued throughout the following month.

Jacek Krzynowek wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Mai

Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026

Birthday boy of the month: Jacek Krzynowek turns 50

Jacek Krzynowek was born on 15 May 1976 in Kamiensk, Poland, and grew up as a typical country boy. He spent his childhood less in structured training sessions and more on simple pitches, where he spent hours playing football with older boys. He realised early on that he had exceptional shooting power and enormous stamina. But for a long time, he didn't appreciate just how much talent he had. While others dream of a great career, professional football initially seems like a distant world to him that he only knows from television.