Even if Bayer Leverkusen as a factory club is viewed critically by some soccer traditionalists, the club has been in the Bundesliga for several decades. But one of the decisive figures of the rise is now dead.
Former Bundesliga player and coach Willibert Kremer died at the age of 82. This was announced by his former club Viktoria Köln on Christmas Day. Kremer had played for Hertha BSC and MSV Duisburg in the Bundesliga. As a coach he reached the cup final with MSV in 1975 and led Bayer Leverkusen to promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979. The Werkself have not been relegated since then. Only FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are longer in a row in the upper house of football.
At Viktoria Kremer played under the later Cologne and Mönchengladbach master coach Hennes Weisweiler in the Oberliga West in the midfield. He later trained in Munich and Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1860, among others. His last coaching position was at Tennis Borussia Berlin in the 1990s. From 1998 to 2013 he worked as a scout at Bayer Leverkusen before retiring.
Viktoria and Leverkusen also mourn
“It was with deep dismay that we learned that our former player Willibert Kremer has died. He has always been an idol for Viktoria and has shaped the club on and off the pitch,” said Viktoria President Günter Pütz after the honorary member’s death.
Bayer Leverkusen also commented on the evening of December 25th. The club posted several pictures of Kremer on Twitter and commented: “Our condolences go to his wife and family. Rest in peace!”
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