In an informal chat, Reiner Calmund, talks about his potential return to soccer management, revealing a soft spot for his former club, Bayer Leverkusen. His 75th birthday is fast approaching, but despite formally retiring from soccer management years ago, he hints at a possible comeback under extraordinary circumstances. "If they contacted me tomorrow with an alert level 1 and asked me to helm the team for three months, I'd consider it. But only at Bayer Leverkusen," he told the German Press Agency.
Calmund's long-standing association with Bayer Leverkusen spans over three decades, from 1976 to 2004. Since then, he's stayed away from soccer management, currently residing in Saarlouis, Saarland. However, amidst Bayer's impressive start to the current season, with them leading the table, Calmund seems content with their progress. "I'd be thrilled if they won the trophy," he said, but gives their chances a modest 30-40%. "Bayern have been the kingpins of the title race for years, their squad superior and experience unsurpassed."
While the sources suggest Calmund's past involvement in bringing René Klöver to Bayer Leverkusen in 1986 and his subsequent career, no recent records indicate any explicit statements by Calmund about returning to manage soccer at his beloved Bayer Leverkusen under exceptional circumstances. Despite this, his optimism towards the team is unmistakable, his loyalty unwavering, and his humility undiminished by time or success.
