Ottmar Hitzfeld - Former legendary Bayern coach

[Oliver_Kahn]

Ottmar Hitzfeld ranks among the most successful club coaches of the world. bundesliga.de met up with the football expert.


Hitzfeld won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, he added the Champions League title and the World Club Cup.

He won four German titles with FC Bayern München, but lost the legendary Champions League Final against Manchester United in 1999. He made up for that by winning the Champions League in 2001 and added another World Club Cup to his collection.

bundesliga.de: Ottmar Hitzfeld, since stepping down as Bayern head coach in 2004, you haven't been active. What do you miss the most?

Ottmar Hitzfeld: Nothing at the moment. I am working with a TV channel as football expert. That keeps me up close with what is happening in the Bundesliga and Champions League. So, I'm not missing anything.

bundesliga.de: How stressful is a coach's job?

Hitzfeld: If you're not a coach yourself, you can't really imagine just how great the pressure is. You body feels it, be it the anticipation before a game or in the changing room. But you have to be able to tell the difference between positive and negative stress. It's positive stress when you're waiting for a game as a coach of a top team that win's 80 percent of its games. You know that in all probability you'll win the match. Negative stress is when you're a coach of a team in the relegation battle, or you lose a lot of games. It's a thrill to sensationally beat a top team, but otherwise it's a constant fight for survival and your job. The difference is massive.

bundesliga.de: You live in Switzerland. Do you cherish the peace and quiet there, or are there other reasons?

Hitzfeld: Well, I've always felt drawn to Switzerland. I grew up near the border and as a child I spent a lot of time in that country. I spent my first years as a professional player in Switzerland, and my first seasons as a coach. In eight years I was with Zug, Aarau and Grasshoppers Zürich. That's where my relationship with Switzerland developed.

bundesliga.de: During that time, what did you learn as a player that convinced you to become a coach so early?

Hitzfeld: I first decided to become a coach when I was 30. When I was younger, I couldn't imagine myself becoming a trainer, or that I would ever get the chance to coach a top team. I grew up in Lörrach, and that's a long way from the Bundesliga. I played for FV Lörrach and then FC Basel. At the same time I was studying to become a teacher. When I turned 30, I was still a professional player, and I thought to myself: "I should take coaching qualifications". By the time I was 34, I had to choose between being a teacher or a coach. So I decided to give myself five years to see if I had what it takes to be a coach. After those five years were up, I knew I wanted to remain a coach.

bundesliga.de: In 1997 and 2001 you were voted "world coach of the year". What does that mean to you?

Hitzfeld: It was a dream come true. I still can't believe that they were serious in naming me the best coach in the world. In my opinion there are a lot of trainers out there who are better than me. There are coaches that know more about football than I do, and who can analyse the game better. But I won because of the success the respective teams enjoyed at Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern. We won the Champions League and the World Club Cup. And naturally, that makes me very proud.

bundesliga.de: Will we be seeing you as a coach again? Or is that out of the question?

Hitzfeld: You should never say never, that is something I have learnt over the years. Several trainers have said they will retire, only to return. Otto Rehhagel said he would quit at 55, and is still a coach today. Who knows what will happen in two, three, four or five years? I fell well, I'm relaxed and maybe I will take over a coaching position one day in the future!

[Oliver_Kahn]

I would like him to return to Bayern.
He would certainly do a better job than Magath.

[CantonaStillGod]

What are you moaning about? Bayern are champions aren't they? And within a few points of top spot.

[Oliver_Kahn]

I'm moaning about 3 consecutive away losses, 1 loss at home against the last place team (Bayern were undefeated at Allianz Arena before that...) and I'm also moaning about the crap football that Bayern is playing.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Oh yeah, Hitzfeld is back!

[Trim]

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has insisted his club is in no hurry to find a long-term successor to Felix Magath, who was sacked on Wednesday.

The Bavarian giants immediately installed former boss Ottmar Hitzfeld as coach until the end of the season, and Hoeness admitted the club could even extend that deal.

"I wouldn't rule it out," he said. "We don't have any plans for July 1 [when Hitzfeld's contract expires]. But it would be pretty stupid to start looking for a coach now for July 1."

Hitzfeld refused to be drawn on whether he was expecting a longer stay as Bayern manager than planned, merely stating "I am assuming that Bayern will find a successor after that."

Hoeness: We're in no hurry - Football - Eurosport

[skeeta]

The Hitzfeld return is even more bizarre. He's been waiting all that time for this?

[Trim]

He didn't accept to coach any other team cuz it's only Bayern in his heart. His heart can't manage any other team except us.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Thursday was not a great day for weather in Munich, with overcast skies, freezing drizzle and a miserable chill in the air. The depressing atmospheric conditions made not one jot or scintilla of difference to Uli Hoeneß. The Bayern general manager was positively beaming as he turned to address the largest-ever media throng to pack the press room at the Säbener Strasse.

The reason for the official's sunny disposition was standing right next to him, bearing the name Ottmar Hitzfeld. "I'm truly delighted to present our Ottmar Hitzfeld," Hoeneß smiled. "It feels like I've never been away. I'm at home here," Hitzfeld himself declared a little later, radiating similar levels of contentment and delight.

Still in hunt for title

Ottmar Hitzfeld has returned to Bayern Munich, "and now I'm confident we'll see a successful outcome to this very difficult season after all," Hoeneß remarked. "We've suddenly become aware we could still get something from an almost impossible situation. Provided we all work closely together from now on, everything is possible. Our dream is to retain the league title."

Following Tuesday evening's goalless draw at home to Bochum, Hoeneß and fellow board directors Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Karl Hopfner had even cast doubt on the club's chances of finishing third and securing at least a qualifying berth for the Champions League. Felix Magath was dismissed, and his predecessor promptly installed as his successor.

Nothing is impossible

The man always nicknamed "The General" issued a rousing call to arms at his very first news conference. "I'm going to make it clear to the players that we're still in the fight to become German champions," Hitzfeld announced. Munich currently lie eight points behind leading duo Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, but Hitzfeld merely saw that as an exciting challenge. "I want to achieve the impossible, and win the league with Bayern one more time."

His previous spell at the helm from 1998 to 2004 brought four Bundesliga triumphs, before Hoeneß felt the "burned out and weary" boss needed to move on at the end of the 2003-4 campaign. Hitzfeld has rejected many an offer to return to the game since then, but the only proposal tempting him to spend a couple of days thinking it over came when his former charges Borussia Dortmund called over the winter. "But taking a club from ninth up to fifth wasn't much of a challenge," he reported.

Hard work ahead

However, he took only a few seconds to make up his mind when Hoeneß rang on Wednesday, he revealed. "There wasn't a lot to think about. It remains exciting and an honour to work at one of Europe's best clubs." The fact that Bayern are still in the Champions League and meet Real Madrid in the last sixteen was another argument in favour.

In any case, past history would remain exactly that, Hitzfeld insisted. "This is a new start for everyone." He would seek out the leading dressing room personalities and gauge the mood in the team. "I've been struck by the way the players haven't been enjoying themselves recently. You can only perform if you have desire and passion." Working together with assistant Michael Henke and fitness coach Oliver Schmidtlein, "we'll start by putting in the hard work you need for success."

Focused on next five months

Hitzfeld's new contract only runs until the end of the season. "I basically only wanted to agree to the next four or five months. I'm assuming Bayern will install a different coach after that," the General observed.

By contrast, Hoeneß was not ruling out retaining the 58-year-old's services after the summer. "It would be dumb if we won five matches in a row and then said, off you go Ottmar." Both parties were willing to wait and see how the situation unfolds. "We'll be working so closely together, we'll have plenty of opportunities to talk things over," Hoeneß summarised, the smile never once leaving his face.

[Pennywise]

Horrible news seen with Madrid eyes...

Real Madrid are not that good at the moment with many new players and injures. Bayern have been 'in my opinion' favorits for this match and now they'll have Hitzfeldt as manager, the old fox that knows exactly how to kick the Royal club out of Europe.

[Oliver_Kahn]

With Hitzfeld as our coach, I'm more confident.

If he starts with a win today, it would be just amazing and exactly what we need

[Peddi_Kahn]

its superb
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Oliver_Kahn]

Yeah man, Hitzfeld is great!

[Trim]

Neither Hitzfeld helps. No coach can help.
The board should start a clean-up action on a lot of players.
This team is garbage, the players are garbage.