Udo Lattek

Lore & Background

Lattek was born in Bosemb, East Prussia, Germany (now Boże, Poland). While preparing for a career as a teacher, he played football with SSV Marienheide, Bayer Leverkusen and VfR Wipperfürth. In 1962, he joined VfL Osnabrück, playing primarily as a centre forward known for his heading ability. He scored 34 goals in 70 league matches between 1962 and 1965. Early in 1965, he was released from his playing contract to join the German football association DFB as a youth team coach alongside Dettmar Cramer, and was part of the coaching staff that led Germany into the final of the 1966 World Cup.

Reader's Guide

Lattek took over Bayern Munich in March 1970, recommended by Franz Beckenbauer. He led Bayern to three consecutive league titles, a first in German football history, plus the German Cup and the 1974 European Champions Cup. He later managed Borussia Mönchengladbach, winning two more German titles and the 1979 UEFA Cup. He then had undistinguished years with Borussia Dortmund, followed by a stint at Barcelona where he won the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup. He returned to Bayern Munich and won another league championship hat-trick and two more national cups, including the double in 1986. He later joined 1. FC Köln as Sporting Director and briefly coached Schalke 04. He came out of retirement to coach Borussia Dortmund in the 1999–2000 season, keeping them in the league.

Did You Know?

• Alongside Giovanni Trapattoni and José Mourinho, Lattek is one of only three coaches to have won all three major European club titles.
• He still holds the record for most Bundesliga titles managed, with six at Bayern Munich and two at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
• His 15-year-old son died from leukaemia during his time at Borussia Dortmund.