Bayer 04 coach Dettmar Cramer took a few risks in the 1983/84 season when he went into the new campaign with a 20-year-old, yours truly, and the 18-year-old Andreas Nagel. Neither of us had played in the Bundesliga before. Over the next five years, Andreas mostly sat on the bench. He only made one appearance for the Werkself in the Bundesliga. On 12 October 1985, I had to be substituted after a collision with the Dortmund centre forward Horst Hrubesch on 80 minutes. After carrying on for a few minutes the impaired vision was too much. An eye specialist later diagnosed a bruised eyeball. Andi came on for the last ten minutes to help us secure a 1-1 draw. A week later he made his one and only appearance in goal for a full match in a DFB Pokal tie at SpVgg Plattling and he kept a clean sheet. We went through to the next round after 2-0 win.
Unfortunately, Andi's time at Leverkusen was associated with two nasty injuries. He suffered two broken hands within a short space of time: First in the summer of 1986 and then again immediately after recovering from the first fracture. He was on the bench once or twice in the Bundesliga in the UEFA Cup winning season of 1987/88. At the end of the season he signed for Hannover 96 but only played for the second team there. His last club was FC Gütersloh where he played 87 games in six years.
During his time in Leverkusen, he trained to be an industrial management assistant at the Bayer Works. After retiring he studied business administration and has worked for the DFL for many years, now as the director for sport and youth. He also volunteers on the board of the Robert Enke foundation.
Dear Andi, many happy returns on turning 60. Stay healthy and have a good one.
Anders Giske was born in Kristiansund in Norway on 22 November 1959. In his youth he played for Goma IL. At the age of 20 he moved on to top-flight Norwegian club Brann Bergen. Over his three seasons there he became a central midfield player with an eye for goal. He was called up to the Norway squad in 1979 and he went on to make 38 international appearances – including eleven as captain. After a move within the league to Lillestrøm SK, he rejoined Brann Bergen for a season after a year away.
Show moreAndreas Nagel was born in Hagen in Bremischen on 7 November 1964. The goalkeeper played for Hagener SV throughout his time as a youth player. He came to the attention of Bayer 04 playing for the Germany youth team, where he finished runner-up in the U16 European Championships in 1982, and he joined Leverkusen in 1983.
Show more
On 21 November 1954, the Werkself travel to the Müngersdorfer Stadion with the support of 3,000 Leverkusen fans. After Bayer 04 lost 7-3 to FC Köln away in 1953/54, the team led by coach Sepp Kretschmann want to do better. And they do that – and how!
Show more
In the 1984/85 season there is a clash between Bayer 04, lying tenth in the table, and the leaders Bayern Munich. After five games without a win, Bayer 04 coach Dettmar Cramer is under fire and already sacked according to the media. After a communal walk on 17 November 1984, without the coach, the squad go to the meeting room for a pre-match team meeting and we players sit down but the coach is still not there. But on the flip chart there is the line-up and the words: "SWALLOW IT!"
Show more
The Werkself only have three games in November 1974. Bottom-of-the-table SSV Troisdorf 05 visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Matchday 8. Only 1,200 spectators find their way to the stadium to watch a game that perfectly suits the weather conditions: Poor (Bayer 04), poorer (the weather, persistent rain throughout the game) and even worse (SSV Troisdorf 05).
Show more