The first penalty killer at Bayer 04

Uwe Greiner was the Werkself keeper for two years from 1981 to 1983 and in the Bundesliga play-off match against Kickers Offenbach in 1982 the team could rely on him. The Bad Cannstatt-born goalkeeper made 73 appearances for Bayer 04 – his first was exactly 40 years ago today on 8 August 1981, his 22nd birthday. The match at Bayern Munich ended in a heavy defeat but Greiner was the first Bayer 04 keeper in the then short Bundesliga history of the club to save a penalty. In an interview with bayer04.de, the former Werkself number one recalls a memorable match. But first of all: Happy birthday and all the best on your 62nd birthday, Uwe Greiner.

Uwe, 8 August 1981 was a special day for you in many respects. Can you tell us about it…
Greiner: (laughs aloud) Oh yes, it was certainly that. We were playing at FC Bayern, matchday one in the 1981/82 season. It was my first competitive match for Bayer 04. I’d just moved from VfB Stuttgart to Leverkusen. And as coincidence would have it, it was my birthday on my debut for the Werkself. I was 22 and you would think everything was wonderful. My whole family travelled over from Stuttgart to be at the Olympic Stadium. But then it was 5-0 to Bayern after 43 minutes. A disaster! Five goals conceded and I’d hardly touched the ball. It was completely different from what I imagined.

Were all five unstoppable?
Greiner: Well, I wouldn't put it like that. Perhaps I came out too late for one of them. But there were no crucial mistakes amongst them. Bayern were simply too good for us on the day.

Let's sum it up: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gave Munich the lead, then Wolfgang Dremmler scored, Paul Breitner twice and Dieter Hoeneß before Arne-Larson Ökland scored a consolation goal for Bayer 04 just before half-time. Kurt Niedermayer made it 6-1 just after the hour mark and finally Peter Szech scored on 72 minutes to make it 6-2. And then the reliable penalty taker Breitner had a great chance to increase it to 7-2 with a spot-kick...
Greiner: I knew that Paul Breitner always hesitated in his run-up and liked to shoot into the bottom left corner. It was the same this time. So I guessed right and saved the penalty.

 

 

A bad shot or a great save from you?
Greiner: (He laughs) Let's say: He hit the ball so I was able to save it. Perhaps it was his birthday present to me...

Nevertheless, it was the first penalty saved by a Bayer 04 goalkeeper in the club's history in the Bundesliga.
Greiner: I didn't know that at the time and believe me: That 'historic moment' did not make the crushing defeat any better for me.

Did you have the reputation as a penalty killer?
Greiner: I definitely had that as a youth player. But in the Bundesliga? No. You just need that element of luck.

What were your qualities as a goalkeeper?
Greiner: I was definitely strong on the line, got down very quickly and had great jumping ability.

That 6-2 defeat at the record champions was the start to a season that almost ended in relegation.
Greiner: I remember we also lost 3-0 in the second game at home against VfL Bochum and then we got going and we were in eighth place after matchday nine or ten. We beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 and played a really good game in a 0-0 draw in Bremen. But then it went downhill. We ended up in the play-off against Kickers Offenbach after finishing 16th-it was the first ever play-off in the history of the Bundesliga. Fortunately, we managed not to get relegated. And I think I also played my part in making sure we stayed up.

You played for the Germany U21 team including with Rudi Völler…
Greiner: Yes, and with Lothar Matthäus, Pierre Littbarski and Thomas Allofs. Berti Vogts was the coach. Jogi Löw and Bernd Schuster were also amongst my teammates in the U21s. During my time at Leverkusen, I played for Germany against Portugal in a B international in 1982.

 

After just two years and 73 games for the Black and Reds that was the end of the Leverkusen chapter for you. Why did it happen so quickly?
Greiner: I would have been happy to stay. But my contract wasn't extended. The coach back then Dettmar Cramer and I – we didn't really get on. So I went to Berlin and played for Tennis Borussia and then I was at Fortuna Düsseldorf two years. I played over 40 games for Fortuna. But then my career outside the game was more important. For a while I played for the Oberliga team SpVgg 07 Ludwigsburg.

What's your work these days?
Greiner: Since I stopped playing in 1986 I've been working in the building trade and back then I joined the family firm. We did everything to do with doors and access control systems for kindergartens, schools old people's homes and hotels. My company Greiner Industrievertretungen is in Weinstadt near Stuttgart.

Are you not involved at all in football these days?
Greiner: No, I had and have too much to do in terms of work. But, of course, I still follow the Bundesliga. Above all, my home town club VfB Stuttgart but also Bayer 04. I had two great years at Leverkusen and I got to know some great people during that time like Arne-Larsen Ökland, Walter Posner and Dietmar Demuth. A few months ago, I was in contact with Rüdiger Vollborn, my successor in goal at Leverkusen.

Just before the start of the new season: How do you think Bayer 04 will do this term?
Greiner: I think Leverkusen will definitely be in the running for a Champions League spot.