18 May 1988 – that special date has not lost any of its charisma for Bayer 04 fans: The date of the UEFA Cup win. Many older Werkself fans can name the route to the title standing on their heads: Austria Vienna, FC Toulouse, Werder Bremen and Espanol in the two-leg final that was decided on penalties on 18 May 1998.
In 2013, on the 25th anniversary, the UEFA Cup winners came together for a reunion in Leverkusen (pictured above). Now, five years later on the 30th anniversary, a majority of the heroes from back then returned to the scene of their triumph to celebrate with Bayer 04 fans. On Friday 18 May, there will be an evening shared with the supporters at the BayArena – either in the 1904 Lounge in the West Wing of the stadium or in the Schwadbud in the East Stand.
Rüdiger Vollborn, one of the Bayer 04 fan liaison team and a proud cup winner organise the meeting in tandem with Dirk Dreher, the manager of the Veterans team. there has been a great response from the '88 winners: Former players Marcus Feinbier, Florian Hinterberger, Christian Schreier, Falko Götz, Christian Hausmann, Andrzej Buncol, Wolfgang Rolff, Erich Seckler, Knut Reinhardt and Bernd Dreher have all confirmed they will attend, plus assistant coach Gerd Kentschke and the then general manager Michael Meier. It remains to be seen if Pierre De Keyser and Minas Hantzidis will be at the event.
The reunion on 18 May starts at the apt time of 19.04 CET. And the protagonists of 1988 will definitely have lots of stories to tell on the podium. "We'll watch highlights of all the games with the fans and then talk about it. I'm already really excited to hear the lads' memories," said Rüdiger Vollborn. "The whole thing should be it relaxed as was the case two years ago with the 1996 relegation showdown against Kaiserslautern when Markus Münch, Dirk Heinen, Rudi Völler, Peter Hermann and Markus Happe betrayed their secrets in the Schwadbud." Bayer 04 stadium announcer Tobias Ufer will compere the event from the stage.
Tickets for the supporter meeting with the UEFA Cup heroes are available for five euros, including a free drink. They are available every day from the Fan House at Breidenbachstraße 46 and also from the Stadioneck and the Fan Container at the final Bayer 04 home game of the season.
The evening on 18 May is not the only events this year where winners from the past meet up again. "In September or October we have another big meeting planned where both the 1988 UEFA Cup winners and the DFB Cup winners of 1993 will be in attendance. Tita and Bum-kun Cha, who could not be here this time, will be there," said Rüdiger Vollborn. A supporters meeting is also planned for the 25th anniversary of winning the DFB Cup on 12 June. Bayer 04 will definitely not run out of reasons to celebrate this year.
Alejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
Show moreThe Bayer 04 Women's first-team squad has taken on three homegrown players: Louisa Remien, Paula Schwartze and Amy Wrigge will be part of the Bundesliga team for the new season.
Show moreAt the Casa do Alemão, a small, cosy restaurant in the middle of Rio de Janeiro, the guests with Currywurst and German beer had the best view from the upper floor of the imposing mountain scenery surrounding the Brazilian metropolis. 30 Bayer 04 fans experienced this special atmosphere on Wednesday afternoon. For the first time, Werkself fans from Brazil and Germany met each other at an official meet & greet with club legend Paulo Sergio. In a high-spirited atmosphere, Sergio revealed one or two funny stories and the Bayer 04 fans had lively discussions with each other.
Show moreDay two of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour can begin. Today, Wednesday 16 July, the Werkself have two training sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. There will also be a meet & greet for fans with club legend Paulo Sergio. As usual, Bayer04.de will keep you up-to-date with on-site reports. The blog on day two of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings in local time).
Show more