In the 1976/1977 season, VfB won promotion back to the Bundesliga. Together with the protagonists from back then, we are recalling the events of 40 years ago and presenting the players from the promotion winning side. Between Christmas and New Year, on www.vfb.de, we will be publishing the stories which have been appearing in the matchday programme throughout the current campaign.

For Erwin Hadewicz, it was a step backward on the pitch – but a distinctly successful one. The now VfB scout captured the attention as a goal-getter, slotted then back into defensive midfield in the 1976/1977 season and had a vital part to play in VfB’s return to the Bundesliga’s top-flight. "As a former attacker, that helped me to get into the mind-set of my opponents and read their play," explained Erwin Hadewicz, adding: "Although there was a lot of dirty-work to be done, I really enjoyed my new task."

"One vitally important point was the absolute determination to win. That was noticeable in every single training session," explained the former VfB pro. That unyielding will to win was also felt by VfB’s opponents during the promotion season. During the course of the 1976/1977 campaign, VfB won 24 of their 38 matches. "That year was the beginning of a great development at VfB," noted Erwin Hadewicz retrospectively. For Hadewicz personally, the step back was exactly the right move to gather momentum.