1972-1980

With “Speckflag” Jerseys and a Star Lineup

For the 1971/72 season, SV Werder Bremen didn’t just change its outfit; the team was refreshed with plenty of new faces. Instead of the traditional green and white, Werder Bremen now wore the so-called “Speckflag” jerseys—with the colors of the city of Bremen shining on the shirt, and the Bremen key instead of the Werder “W” emblazoned on the striped chest. The team thus promoted the city of Bremen. In cooperation with the city and Bremen’s economy, the club’s financial situation was improved. Debts were forgiven, and the club received a share of advertising revenue from Weser Stadium.

Without having to count every penny, several stars were lured to the Weser for the 1971/72 campaign. Players like Willi Neuberger, Herbert Laumen, and Werner “Acker” Weist now wore the Bremen shirt. Even Günter Netzer wanted to join, but the club couldn’t meet his extra demand to market the stadium magazine “Werder-Echo,” so he stayed in Mönchengladbach.

Werder Back to Green and White

The ambitious plan to bring Werder back to the top of the Bundesliga with a lot of money failed. The costly line-up didn’t function as hoped. Werder finished a disappointing eleventh in a season that saw six different coaches on the bench. In subsequent years, mid-table became the norm. The low point came in the 1979/1980 season, when Bremen—after several seasons back in their original green and white colors—finished seventeenth and were relegated to the second division.