Wikipedia

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Ottmar Hitzfeld(German pronunciation:[ˈʔɔtmaːɐ̯ˈhɪt͡sfɛlt];born 12 January 1949) is a German former professionalfootballplayer and a former manager. He accumulated a total of 18 major titles, mostly in his tenures withGrasshopper Club Zürich,Borussia DortmundandBayern Munich.

Ottmar Hitzfeld
Hitzfeld coachingSwitzerlandin 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1949-01-12)12 January 1949(age 76)
Place of birth Lörrach,Germany
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1960–1967 TuS Stetten
1967–1968 FV Lörrach
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1975 Basel 92 (66)
1975–1978 VfB Stuttgart 80 (38)
1978–1980 Lugano 55 (35)
1980–1983 Luzern 72 (30)
Total 300 (169)
International career
1972 West Germany (Olympic) 6 (5)
Managerial career
1983–1984 SC Zug
1984–1988 Aarau
1988–1991 Grasshoppers
1991–1997 Borussia Dortmund
1998–2004 Bayern Munich
2007–2008 Bayern Munich
2008–2014 Switzerland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A striker in his playing days, Hitzfeld won twoSwiss Super Leaguetitles (1971–72,1972–73) with Basel. He was top goalscorer in the league for the 1972–73 season. He earned six caps for the West Germany national team, all at the1972 Summer Olympicsin Munich.

A trained mathematician and sports teacher, Hitzfeld is one of the most successful coaches of German and international football. As manager, he won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund and five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. He won the1996–97 Champions Leaguewith Dortmund, beating a star-studded Juventus team in the final. He won the2000–01 Champions Leaguewith Bayern, defeating Valencia in the final.

He has been elected "World Coach of the Year" twice; he is one of only six managers to win theEuropean Cup/UEFA Champions Leaguewith two clubs, along withErnst Happel,Pep Guardiola,José Mourinho,Jupp Heynckes,andCarlo Ancelotti.

Playing career

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Born inLörrach,Hitzfeld started playing football in the late 1960s with TuS Stetten and FV Lörrach in the lower German leagues before he captured the attention of Swiss first division teamFC Basel.[1]He joined the club, located on the other bank of theRhine,in 1971. With this club the forward won the Swiss championship in 1972 and 1973, in the latter season even contributing as the top striker in Switzerland. In 1975, he also won thecupwith Basel.[2]

In 1973, while playing at Basel, he graduated from nearby Lörrach College as a teacher of mathematics and sports. He retained his amateur status to be able to participate in the1972 Summer Olympicsin Munich. There, he played amongst others withUli Hoeneß,the laterBayern Munichplayer and general manager who would hire him as coach in the late 1990s. One of the highlights of this tournament was the first encounter between the national sides of West and East Germany on the football pitch. West Germany lost this match 2–3, and thus failed to reach the semifinals. In this match, Hitzfeld scored one of his five goals in the tournament. In 1975, the 26-year-old Hitzfeld accepted an offer by the then Germansecond divisionsideVfB Stuttgart.[3]At theSwabianside, he was part of a legendary "100 goal offense" (the goal difference that season being 100:36) and in one match againstSSV Jahn Regensburghe scored six goals, still therecordfor a 2. Bundesliga player.[4]After two years, in 1977, the team achieved promotion to the first division, theBundesliga.Hitzfeld had by that time scored 33 goals in 55 league matches. In the Bundesliga, the club finished the season a remarkable fourth. Hitzfeld contributed five goals in 22 matches.[3]After three years with Stuttgart, Hitzfeld returned to what by then had become his second home, Switzerland. There, he played from 1978 to 1980 withFC Luganobefore joiningFC Luzern,where he finished his playing career in 1983, aged 34.

Managerial career

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1983–1991: Coaching in Switzerland

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During the summer of 1983, Hitzfeld signed his first coaching contract withSC Zug,in the second tier of Swiss football. The team ended the 1983–84 season as Nationalliga B champions. Thus Hitzfeld and his team achieved immediate promotion to theNationalliga A,for the first and only time in the clubs history.[5]In 1984, he followed an offer to coachFC Aarau,where he settled for four years. His tenure there was crowned with his first title as coach, the 1985Swiss Cup.Soon he attracted also the attention of the major Swiss clubGrasshopperinZürich.Between 1988 and 1991, he gained another four trophies there, starting with a repeat of his cup victory by the end of his first season.[6]The next year, he followed up with the double before finishing his engagement with the defence of theSwiss Championshipin 1991.[7]

1991–1998: Borussia Dortmund

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In 1991, Hitzfeld became manager ofBundesligaclubBorussia Dortmund.[8]In his first year, he and his assistantMichael Henke,with whom he would collaborate for the next 13 years, took the team to second spot in theleague,securing a1992–93 UEFA Cupplace. The following season, Dortmund reached the finals of this competition, but both matches were lost againstJuventus.In 1995, he gained his firstBundesliga titlewith Dortmund, their first trophy since theDFB-Pokalin1989,and Hitzfeld's first trophy in Germany. In 1995–96, he had a successful defence of the title, but the great triumph had to wait for another year: in 1997, Dortmund finished third in the league, but reached theUEFA Champions League final,where another encounter with Juventus was due. This time, Borussia prevailed 3–1 in Munich'sOlympiastadionagainst the team from northern Italy which featuredZinedine Zidane,Didier Deschamps,andChristian Vieri,amongst others. For his success, Hitzfeld was rewarded for the first time with the "World Coach of the Year" award,[9]but as frictions with the team had come to a head, he was promoted out of the firing line to the position of sports manager with the club, where he witnessed his successor,Nevio Scala,taking Borussia Dortmund to win the1997 Intercontinental CupagainstCruzeirofrom Brazil. He finished with a record of 144 wins, 63 draws, and 65 losses.[8]

1998–2008: Bayern Munich

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First spell

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In 1998, Hitzfeld was hired by Germany's most successful club,Bayern Munich.[10]In his first year, he led the club to renewed championship glories, winning theleague titleby 15 points,[11]a record margin. However, the club lost theDFB-Pokalfinal toWerder Bremenon penalties.[12]Most important was their run to theChampions League final.The final is remembered for the dramaticManchester Unitedcomeback inside the injury time period. Trailing 1–0, United scored two goals in stoppage time, condemning Bayern to a stunning defeat.[13]They had also won theDFB-Ligapokal.[14]

In the next season, domestic success was improved upon with Bayern winningthe double.After winning by a record margin last season, Bayern won on a heartbeat finish this season. They had won the league on a tiebreaker.[15]Hitzfeld's team depended on the neighbours fromUnterhaching,a suburb of Munich, to beatBayer Leverkusenon the last day play to secure the title. TheDFB-Pokalfinal was won against Bremen, the team which beat Bayern in the previous final. In theChampions League,Bayern was stopped in the semifinal by eventual winnersReal Madrid.

In the2000–01 season,Hitzfeld led Bayern not only to theleague championshiphat-trick,[16]but once again into theChampions League final,defeating winner in previous two editions: Manchester United and defending champions Real Madrid en route (1-3 on aggregate, 1-0 away, 2-1 home). This time, the side from Munich prevailed, though it took a penalty shoot-out againstValencia.This made Hitzfeld only the second coach afterErnst Happelto win the major European trophy with two teams.

Again, he was recognized with the honour of "World Coach of the Year",[7]but this time he remained in control over his team in the ensuing2001 Intercontinental Cupfinal againstBoca Juniorsfrom Argentina. A sole goal by Ghanaian defenderSamuel Kuffourin extra-time made it an evening to celebrate for Hitzfeld and his team. By then, the team had a tendency to put in lacklustre performances and in the end had to make do with third place in the league.[17]

The2002–03 seasonstarted on 25 July 2002 when Bayern were knocked out of theDFB-Ligapokalin a shootout by Hertha BSC.[18]In the 2002–03 season, Bayern once more dominated German football, claiming theleague title[19]four matches before the end of the Bundesliga season.[20]Bayern won with a 16-point lead over second-place Stuttgart.[21]With a 3–1 win overKaiserslauternin the2003 DFB-Pokal final,Hitzfeld's team secured another double.[22]

Bayern started the2003–04 seasonby getting knocked out of theDFB-Ligapokalin the semi-finals after losing a shootout Hamburger SV on 22 July 2003.[23]The 2003–04 season yielded no titles after Bayern finished in second place,[24]and getting knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the quarter-finals byAlemannia Aachen,[25]and getting knocked out ofUEFA Champions Leagueby Real Madrid in the round of 16.[25]The club sacked Hitzfeld with a year remaining year of the contract of the 55-year-old coach.[26][27]His final match was a 2–0 win againstSC Freiburgon 22 May 2004.[25]Hitzfeld finished with a record of 193 wins, 73 draws, 53 losses.[10]

Second spell

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Hitzfeld had an offer to take over the reins of theGermany national team,but preferred to take a break from the game.[28]On 1 February 2007, following the sacking ofFelix Magath,he returned to Bayern Munich.[29]His first match back was a 3–0 loss against 1. FC Nürnberg.[30]Hopes that he might lead Bayern to another championship,[31]despite trailing by eight points with 15 games remaining, were not fulfilled, though. Eventually, Bayern finished fourth, thereby failing to qualify for theChampions Leaguefor the first time in more than a decade.[32]A multimillion spending spree before the new season helped Hitzfeld to lead the club to a new phase of domestic dominance, winning theDFB-Ligapokal,[33]theDFB-Pokal,[34]and theleague championship.[35]After several high wins and many draws, Bayern'sUEFA Cupcampaign ended in the semifinal with a humbling 4–0 defeat by eventual winnerZenit St. Petersburg.During the season, Hitzfeld had announced that he would not be available for another season at the helm andJürgen Klinsmannbecame his successor at Bayern. His final match was a 4–1 win against Hertha BSC.[36]

2008–2014: Swiss national team

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Hitzfeld at a 2012 press conference

Hitzfeld took over as coach of theSwiss national teamin summer 2008.[37]His first match at the helm was a friendly match that finished as a 4–1 win for Switzerland againstCypruson 20 August 2008.[38]His first competitive match was a 2–2 draw againstIsraelon 6 September 2008 inqualifyingfor the2010 FIFA World Cup.[38]Switzerland finished FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 0–0 draw against Israel on 14 October 2009.[39]Switzerland finished top of its qualifying group to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[40]Switzerland playedUruguay,Costa Rica,andItalyin friendlies leading up to the FIFA World Cup.[41]Switzerland lost 3–1 to Uruguay on 3 March 2010, lost 1–0 to Costa Rica on 1 June 2010, and drew Italy 1–1 on 5 June 2010.[41]Although Switzerland won their opening match 1–0 against eventual championsSpain,[42]they went on to lose 1–0 against Chile[43]and get a 0–0 draw against Honduras which eliminated their chances of qualifying fromGroup H.[44]

Switzerland failed to qualify forEuro 2012,finishing third behindEnglandandMontenegroin theirqualifying group.[45]Switzerland started qualifying with two consecutive losses to England and Montenegro.[41]Then they defeatedWalesin their final qualifier of 2010.[41]They stretched their undefeated streak to four matches after a draw against England and a draw and a win againstBulgaria.[46]The undefeated streak ended when Switzerland lost to Wales before defeating Montenegro in their final qualifying match.[46]Switzerland started 2012 with a 3–1 loss toArgentinaon 29 February 2012 and a 5–3 win againstGermanyon 26 May 2012.[47]Then Switzerland lost toRomaniafour days later.[47]Switzerland defeatedCroatiaon 15 August 2012.[47]

Hitzfeld led Switzerland to a second successive FIFA World Cup as his team remained unbeaten throughout thequalifying campaign.[48]Switzerland started qualifying with a pair of 2–0 wins againstSloveniaon 7 September 2012 andAlbaniaon 11 September 2012.[47]Then they drewNorway1–1 on 12 October 2012 and defeatedIceland2–0 four days later.[47]In the final match of 2012, Switzerland defeatedTunisia2–1 in a friendly match.[47]Switzerland started 2013 with a 0–0 draw againstGreeceon 6 February 2013.[49]Switzerland's next two matches were against Cyprus.[49]The match on 23 March 2013 finished in a 0–0 draw and the match on 8 June 2013 finished in a 1–0 win for Switzerland.[49]Switzerland beatBrazilon 14 August 2013.[49]Switzerland finished out qualifying with a 4–4 draw against Iceland and three consecutive wins against Norway, Albania, and Slovenia.[49]On 17 October 2013, Hitzfeld announced that he would be retiring after the2014 FIFA World Cup.[50]Switzerland finished 2013 with a 2–1 loss againstSouth Koreain a friendly match.[49]Leading into the FIFA World Cup, Switzerland drew 2–2 with Croatia and defeatedJamaicaandPeru.[51]Switzerland defeatedEcuador,[52]lost toFrance,[53]and defeatedHonduras[54]to finish second in Group E.[55]Hitzfeld's final match was a 1–0 extra time loss against Argentina in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup on 1 July 2014.[51][56]Vladimir Petkovićsucceeded Hitzfeld.[57]

Retirement

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He announced his retirement from coaching after the World Cup[50]withVladimir Petkovićtaking over on 1 July 2014.[57]

It was said thatChinese Super LeagueclubGuangzhou Evergrandeonce offered Hitzfeld an 18–month-long contract, with a value of 24 million euros. However, he turned it down.[58]

Overview

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International level

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Year Competitions Friendly matches Ref.
M W D L GF GA Win % M W D L GF GA Win %
2008 4 2 1 1 7 6 050.00 2 2 0 0 5 1 100.00 [38]
2009 6 4 2 0 11 2 066.67 3 0 2 1 1 2 000.00 [39]
2010 6 2 1 3 6 6 033.33 6 1 3 2 5 7 016.67 [41]
2011 5 2 2 1 7 5 040.00 4 2 2 0 3 1 050.00 [46]
2012 4 3 1 0 7 1 075.00 5 3 0 2 12 10 060.00 [47]
2013 6 4 2 0 10 5 066.67 3 1 1 1 2 2 033.33 [49]
2014 4 2 0 2 7 7 050.00 3 2 1 0 5 2 066.67 [51]
Totals 35 19 9 7 55 32 054.29 26 11 9 6 33 25 042.31 —

Personal life

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Hitzfeld (right) in 2005

Hitzfeld was born inLörrachin the valley of theWiesein southwest Germany, close to the Swiss border. He grew up there and is the youngest of five children. Hitzfeld said[59]that when he first left Bayern in 2004 he 'felt burnt out' and 'was a bit depressed', and 'it took me two years to recover.' He then had 'the best years at Bayern' on his return. He stated his views that people should not get too excited about things, not get too down about things, and treat each situation individually. His uncle was theWorld War IIgeneralOtto Hitzfeld.

Hitzfeld is married to Beatrix Hitzfeld. They have one child and three grandchildren.[60]

TheOttmar Hitzfeld Arena,the highest in Europe, is named after him.[61]

Managerial statistics

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As of 1 July 2014
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % Ref.
Zug 1983 1984 32 17 9 6 053.13
Aarau 1984 1988 162 85 37 40 052.47
Grasshopper Club 1988 1991 142 73 36 33 051.41
Borussia Dortmund 1 July 1991[8] 30 June 1997[8] 272 144 63 65 052.94 [8]
Bayern Munich 1 July 1998[10] 30 June 2004[26] 319 193 73 53 060.50 [10]
Bayern Munich 1 February 2007[10] 30 June 2008[10] 76 45 20 11 059.21 [10]
Switzerland 1 July 2008 1 July 2014 64 33 18 13 051.56
Total 1,067 590 256 221 055.30 —

Honours

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Player

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Basel

Individual

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Manager

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SC Zug

  • Nationalliga B champions: 1983–84

Aarau

Grasshopper

Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich

Individual

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References

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  2. ^"1973/74 bis 1982/83"(in German). FC Basel Official website. Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2008.Retrieved17 August2008.
  3. ^ab"Ottmar Hitzfeld"(in German). fussballdaten.de. 2008.Retrieved17 August2008.
  4. ^"2. Bundesliga » Statistik » Die meisten Tore eines Spielers pro Spiel"[2. Bundesliga » Statistics » he most goals by a player in a game]. weltfussball.de.Retrieved21 September2012.
  5. ^Erik Garin."Switzerland 1983/84".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Retrieved16 November2019.
  6. ^"Nationale Erfolge"(in German). Grasshopper Club Zürich Official website. 2008.Retrieved17 August2008.
  7. ^ab"Ottmar Hitzfeld".WorldSoccer. 2 September 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2008.Retrieved17 August2008.
  8. ^abcde"Borussia Dortmund"(in German). kicker.Retrieved18 January2014.
  9. ^"Ottmar Hitzfeld, General a.D."(in German). bundesliga.de. 17 May 2008.Retrieved17 August2008.
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