Downhill after good start

 The team start the season well and are in third place in the Bundesliga after 15 games. However, in the second half of the season it goes slowly but consistently downhill.

 On matchday 25, Bayer are in an apparently safe eighth place. And they have two games in hand – due to postponements in the winter. So everybody is looking up the league. At the same time the gap to the drop zone is narrowing.

 Carsten ‘Calle’ Ramelow arrives in the winter

 Carsten Ramelow signs from Hertha Berlin in the winter break. The Berlin-born player should help Bayer 04 achieve the set targets of qualifying for Europe. He bags a brace in his third game for Bayer 04. And in the home game against hundred Rostock he scores both goals in the 2-0 win.

 

 

Over to you Peter Hermann!

Following a 2-1 defeat at home to Karlsruhe FC – Bayer 04 are now 15th position – the club parts company with coach Erich Ribbeck. The previous assistant coach Peter Hermann takes the helm for the last five games. And, together with his team, secures top-flight status on the last day of the season.

 

Münch saves Bayer – Völler consoles Brehme

 Bayer 04 are two points ahead of Kaiserslautern in 16th position. A defeat against the Red Devils would mean relegation and a draw would be enough to stay up. Pavel Kuka puts Kaiserslautern ahead on 58 minutes. The jitters start. That score means Bayer are down. With eight minutes to play, Markus Münch brings relief to the Leverkusen fans. He fires in the goal for the much celebrated 1-1 equaliser. Bayer stay in the top flight, Kaiserslautern drop down to the second division. And Rudi Völler has to console his crying friend Andy Brehme of FC Kaiserslautern after the game in front of the cameras.

 

Rudi's farewell

 Three days later, on 21 May 1995, Rudi Völler has his farewell game at the BayArena. The world star ends his great career in brilliant surroundings. After the game between Rudi's dream team (including Thomas Berthold, Pierre Littbarski, Guido Buchwald) against the German national side celebrations continue after the match in the Bayer casino with many VIPs.

 

Charity match at the Aztec Stadium

 Rudi also celebrated his international farewell on an end of season tour to the USA and Mexico. Bayer 04 played Mexican top-flight side Atlante in a charity match in front of 60,000 spectators at the legendary Aztec Stadium in Mexico City. The profits from the game, plus the funds raised from Rudi's farewell match in Leverkusen, went to the Mexico aid fund of the DFB in Queretaro. The following season saw Rudi embark on his second career – as the sporting director at Bayer 04.