Horst Steffen reminisces about "agonizing" incidents at the Weser-Stadion
Football Veteran Horst Steffen's Journey to Bremen
Over the years, Horst Steffen, a three-decade football prodigy, graced the pitch in Bremen for multiple away games. His clashes with SV Werder spanned from 1988 to 2000, totaling seven appearances at the Weser Stadium.
"Those matches had an awkward vibe," the 56-year-old reminisced during his press conference: "Some games in my playing days weren't exactly victorious for me."
Indeed, Steffen never emerged triumphant at the Weser Stadium as a player. Two matches ended in a stalemate, while five were losses. On two occasions, he suffered substantial defeats.
Steffen's Rude Awakening in Bremen
The nastiest degradation came during the 1994/95 season's 31st round when Werder faced Steffen's then-team, Bayer Uerdingen. Sitting at the top, Werder's championship hopes were afoot, while Uerdingen aimed to avoid relegation. The power disparity was evident in the final score: 1-6 in Steffen's perspective. Mario Basler, Andreas Herzog, Marco Bode, and their cohort left the Werkself with no fighting chance.
"They were formidable opponents," Steffen praised, admiring Rehhagel's team: "Their attacking style was motivating and impressive."
Although Werder missed out on the championship due to a close battle with Dortmund on the final day, Uerdingen managed to stay afloat. After another season with Uerdingen, Steffen moved to Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg in 1996.
Steffen's Struggles with Duisburg
Parting with the Weser Stadium in May 2000, Duisburg's Steffen felt disheartened. Claudio Pizarro had put Werder ahead within just four minutes, setting the tone for the lopsided win against the already-relegated MSV. The match ended 4-0.
Steffen's final football encounter in Bremen came with this loss, concluding his career with MSV in the 2. Bundesliga in 2003.
The humbling experience was often the norm.
As the new Werder coach, Steffen is still seeking his initial competitive win in Bremen. With the Bundesliga kick-off (August 22-24) just around the corner, he now has the opportunity to forge new, positive memories.
"Though Horst Steffen's football career ended in losses when he played against Bremen as a player, as the new coach, he now has the opportunity to create new, triumphant memories at the Weser Stadium."
"In his playing days, Steffen experienced tough encounters during his matches with Bremen's football team, but his time with them continued even after his retirement, as he faced Bremen's dominance once more with MSV Duisburg."
