A reader of DER SPIEGEL magazine, Volkmar Schneider, recounts a story from his student days involving Uli Hoeneß. Schneider and Hoeneß were friends during this period. He recalls an incident where he may have inadvertently saved Hoeneß’s football career by assisting him following a traffic violation – running a red light (“rote Ampel”). The details of the event remain somewhat vague, but it suggests Schneider helped Hoeneß navigate the consequences of the infraction. This anecdote surfaces as part of a larger reflection on Hoeneß’s life and career as he approaches his seventies. The story highlights an unexpected, potentially pivotal moment in the early life of the prominent football figure. It offers a glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of Hoeneß’s past.