"All of a sudden we were seen differently"

Celebrated heroes: Werder player Heinz Steinmann is amongst the delighted fans (photo: Schumann/Hake).
First Team
Wednesday, 29.04.2015 / 17:12

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Werder's histroic triumph, WERDER.DE caught up with some of the 1965 title winning squad...

SV Werder Bremen will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first German title success back in 1965 at the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Heroes from back then will be welcomed and honoured at the Weser-Stadion.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Werder's histroic triumph, WERDER.DE caught up with some of the 1965 title winning squad. Max Lorenz, Horst-Dieter Höttges and Co. reflect upon the celebrations in the city, team spirit and getting goosebumps.

The best-known celebration picture in Werder’s history: Horst-Dieter Höttges and keeper Günter Bernard jump in the air (photo: Schumann/Hake).

Günter Bernard on the team's spirit: "Our strength was that we were a tight-knit group, a unit. This was the case both on and off the pitch. We would often have a couple of drinks together on Monday evenings. There was a strong sense of camaraderie."

Max Lorenz on winning the title: "Becoming champions was an overwhelming experience. I still get goosebumps when I look back at pictures. I'll never forget the moment when we were at the town hall and celebrated winning. All of a sudden we were seen differently and people wanted our autographs. Our team attracted more and more fans to the Weser-Stadion. I'm very grateful that our fantastic team could win the first title in the club's history for this outstanding city."

Still a bit sceptical: the evenutal title winning squad at a photo shoot (photo: Schumann/Hake).

Gerhard Zebrowski on the end-of-season run-in: "I can remember it very well. For example, I scored a goal in the last seconds of both the matches in Braunschweig and Duisburg. The closer it got to the end of the season, the more comfortable we felt with talking about becoming champions."

Hans Schulz on the Werder fans: "Bremen fans are very, very good. That was the case back then and it still is today. The people in Bremen at the time had the sense that something special was happening with regards to being crowned champions. Even though the weather was terrible, lots of people still came out to celebrate with us."

Horst-Dieter Höttges on the euphoria in Bremen: "People can no longer grasp exactly what went on here after we won the title. People lined the train tracks from Hannover to Bremen to cheer for us."

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