"Rudi recounts…"
...the tales of yesteryear. Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, is Bayer 04’s record appearance holder in the Bundesliga with 401 games, and is the only Leverkusen player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB-Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red encyclopaedia takes Werkself fans on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month with our series ‘Rudi recounts…’.
Topics
Birthday boy of the month 1: Anders Giske turns 65
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 more
Birthday boy of the month 2: Andreas Nagel turns 60
Andreas 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
From the archives: 70 years ago – Fredi Mutz, the goalkeeper with a thousand hands
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
Match of the month: 40 years ago – The shortest team meeting of my career
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
History: 50 years ago – promotion season 1974/75 (November)
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