Ottmar Hitzfeld is a talented athlete and world-famous coach

Ottmar Hitzfeld was born in 1949, on January 12, in Lörrach. This is one of the most famous football players and coaches in Germany. This person has a rich and rich career, and he is a respected person, so it's worth talking about him in more detail.

Youth

Young Ottmar Hitzfeld was born and grew up in a place called Lörrach. It was near the Swiss border. So it is quite understandable that, having mastered the basics of football skills in local youth teams, he went to a neighboring country. It was with "Basel" that he concluded his first professional contract. It happened in 1971. A year later, together with his new team, he won the title of Champion of Switzerland. In 1973, success was repeated. Then he became the best scorer in the country. And in 1975 the team became the owner of the Cup of Switzerland.

Even Hitzfeld Ottmar, whose biography is very interesting, performed excellently at the Olympic tournament, which was held in 1972 in Munich. He played in the national German team. Then Ottmar attracted the attention of many representatives of the famous clubs in Germany. In 1975 he signed a contract with the famous "Stuttgart". However, after three years he returned to Switzerland, where he played two years for Lugano, and then three more - for FC Lucerne. When he was 34 years old, Hitzfeld decided to hang his boots on a nail and began to practice coaching.

Beginning of coaching career

Hitzfeld set himself the task - in the next five years to achieve such a success, through which he could not wait for managers to make any proposals, and choose the club. And he did it. It was exactly five years of coaching activity, as he was invited to lead the Grasshopper. Ottmar Hitzfeld agreed. And in 1991 he returned to Germany and took under his coaching direction Dortmund "Borussia", whose representatives were keen to get it.

Many believed that Ottmar could not cope - in fact, since 1963, "Borussia" has changed ... 23 coach! However, in spite of everything he did. He did a great job, and in 1992 the club won the title of vice-champion of Germany. And in the following season the team reached the final of the UEFA Cup. And in 1995 - won the title of Champion of Germany, a year later, in 1996, repeating this achievement. Moreover, in 1997, Ottmar Hitzfeld led "Borussia" to the final of the Champions League. And the club won it! With a score of 3: 1 - in Turin "Juventus"! It was really a massive achievement.

Further successes

Despite what Ottmar did for the team, the leadership with him stopped getting along. Like the players. As a result, he decided to leave, as his advice on buying new players was not listened to and turned into a big disagreement, forgetting about everything he did for the club.

In 1998, he became the head coach of the most successful German team - the Munich "Bavaria"! Before the conclusion of the contract, he was still the director of Borussia. It was more a paid vacation - a reward for grueling years of enormous labor. But when representatives of Borussia found out that Ottmar was leaving for the rivals, he was fired immediately.

Last years

A "Bavaria" Hitzfeld led to the title of the country's champions. 1999, 2000, 2001 - in these years the title was theirs! Once won the German Cup, in 2000. In the tragic final of the Champions League 98/99 "Bavarians" lost to Manchester United - five minutes before the end of the game the British came out in a plus, and the game ended with a score of 2: 1. But they won the Champions League in 2001! In 2004, Hitzfeld left the club - the reasons are not clear, we only know that ahead of schedule. Then came to the senses, "Borussia" and even "Dynamo" with "Locomotive" - began to offer him contracts. He refused. I rested in the mountains, occasionally gave lectures at the Higher Sports School, led columns in some popular football publications. And in 2007, suddenly returned to "Bavaria"! There he worked for a year, and from 2008 to 2014 he coached the Swiss national team.

On July 1, 2014, Ottmar Hitzfeld, whose photo can be seen above, decided to end his career. He achieved a lot - dozens of champion titles, international calling, fans all over the world ... So he fulfilled his job and now can enjoy rest.