 Ahead of the 1964–65 season he signed with Bundesliga team Werder Bremen and enjoyed immediate success under Willi Multhaup at the Weser-Stadion, ending up winner of the Bundesliga title with Werder at the end of the same season.This outstanding success with Werder Bremen was a key for the full back to be called up by Helmut Schön for the German team already in 1965, a time when his toughness in tackling duels earned him his "Eisenfuß" ("iron foot") nickname.Although Werder Bremen could not recopy the success of 1965, and became rather a relegation battler than a title chaser, Höttges remained loyal to them and served in the Bundesliga until 1978, scoring 55 goals in his 420 appearances for the North German side.