Fun Facts

The greatest triumphs and the "Miracles on the Weser" with unforgettable floodlit European nights at the Weserstadion against Anderlecht (5-3 after being 0-3 down, 1993), Dynamo Berlin (5-0, 1988) and Olympique Lyon (4-0, 1999) have long been part of German football history. But Werder is more than just miracles. There are plenty of fun facts about the German champions of 1965, 1988, 1993 and 2004 that will score points against any HSV fan.

Werder? Hamburg has had enough! Bremen against HSV never went well. But when Bremen won the title, there was also a thrashing for the unloved Hamburgers. Andy Herzog and co. swept the "Rothosen" out of the Weserstadion 5-0 on matchday 33 of 1992/93. The mood at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion a week later against Eintracht Frankfurt (1-2) said it all. "We've had enough!" read a lonely fan banner in the empty Westkurve… In 2004, Hamburg suffered a 0-6 defeat in Bremen on matchday 30. In both cases, Bayern were not amused. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke of a "shoddy north German provincial farce" in 1993. Misreading the Hanseatic rivalry, they suspected match-fixing. At least Werder were champions in both years — ahead of FC Bayern.

The best throw-in of all time: Bayern had even more reason to be annoyed by Werder. But on August 21, 1982, they only had themselves to blame. Their new goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, Belgium's number one, made his Bundesliga debut that day and ensured everyone noticed. In the 44th minute, he conceded the first throw-in goal in Bundesliga history. Striker Uwe Reinders, a man with powerful arms and a big mouth, hurled the ball with wind assistance into the six-yard box where it bounced high. Too high for Pfaff, who was also impeded by sweeper Klaus Augenthaler, only getting his fingertips to the ball and letting it bounce into the net. Had he not touched it, the goal would not have counted. Worse still: it was the only goal of the match. Werder celebrated their throw-in goalscorer. And Reinders played it cool: "I wanted to throw the ball to Rudi Völler, who was supposed to flick it into the middle. And then three others were supposed to charge at the ball like bulls. We practised that in training just like other set pieces." Curiously, Werder also benefited from the second and so far last throw-in goal in Bundesliga history. In September 2018, Stuttgart's Ruben Sosa threw the ball towards his own goal, surprising goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, who only got a foot to it. Goal for Werder — though this time it was merely a fun fact in a defeat (1-2).

The year of Freibad-Toni: Ailton is certainly one of the most colourful players Werder Bremen have ever had on their books. The Brazilian, signed from UANL Tigres in Mexico in 1998, claimed the Bundesliga top-scorer cannon in the 2003/04 title season with 28 goals. "Freibad-Toni," as the South American was also known, delivered the best scoring return since Bayern legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1980/81 (29 goals) and was even named "Footballer of the Year" in 2004. The "Goal of the Month" award went to "Ein Chanc, zwei Tor, das Ailton" three times that season — it doesn't get much better.

Otto und „Assi“ auf Kneipenstühlen: Das Meisterstück in der 2. Liga 1981 in Oldenburg erleben Werder-Coach Otto Rehhagel und Manager Rudi Assauer im engen Stadion am Spielfeldrand auf eigens herbeigeschafften Kneipenstühlen.