Ottmar Hitzfeld

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A striker in his playing days, Hitzfeld won two Swiss Super League titles (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 the 1972 Summer Olympics in 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 four Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. He won the 1996–97 Champions League with Dortmund, beating a star-studded Juventus team in the final. He won the 2000–01 Champions League with Bayern, defeating Valencia in the final. He has been elected 'World Coach of the Year' twice; he is one of only seven managers to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League with two clubs, along with Ernst Happel, Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, Jupp Heynckes, and Carlo Ancelotti.

In Their Own Story

The 2000–01 Champions League final remains a defining moment for Hitzfeld. After defeating Real Madrid and Manchester United on aggregate to reach the decider, his side faced Valencia in a match that went straight to penalties. The victory made him one of only seven managers to win the European Cup with two clubs. Domestically, the pressure was immense during the 1998–99 title race, where Bayern won the league on a heartbeat finish dependent on Unterhaching beating Leverkusen. Hitzfeld's relationship with his team evolved over time; after winning the 2001 Intercontinental Cup against Boca Juniors with a sole goal by Samuel Kuffour in extra-time, performances dipped, leading to a third-place league finish. Despite this, he returned from a sabbatical in 2007 for a second spell, guiding Bayern to another league championship and doubles before announcing his departure to be succeeded by Jürgen Klinsmann.

Reader's Guide

Hitzfeld's managerial career began in 1983 with SC Zug, leading them to promotion as Nationalliga B champions. He then coached Aarau, winning the 1985 Swiss Cup. At Grasshoppers (1988–1991), he won four trophies including a double. At Borussia Dortmund (1991–1998), he won two Bundesliga titles (1995, 1996) and the 1996–97 Champions League. At Bayern Munich (1998–2004, then 2007–2008), he won five Bundesliga titles (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and one unclear from the source), the 2000–01 Champions League, and the 2001 Intercontinental Cup.

Did You Know?

• He retained his amateur status to play in the 1972 Summer Olympics, where he scored one of his five tournament goals in the first match between West and East Germany.
• Hitzfeld is one of only seven managers to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League with two clubs.