Ottmar Hitzfeld

Born in Lörrach, 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 team FC Basel.{{cite web | title = Ottmar Hitzfeld| publisher = weltfussball.de | access-date =17 August 2008 |date = July 2008| url = http://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/ottmar-hitzfeld/}} He joined the club, located on the other bank of the Rhine, 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 the cup with Basel.{{cite web | title = 1973/74 bis 1982/83 | publisher = FC Basel Official website | access-date = 17 August 2008 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/articles/show/historyDetail//10339/5/63/10/44/49 | language = de | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211111630/http://www.fcb.ch/articles/show/historyDetail/10339/5/63/10/44/49 | archive-date = 11 December 2008 | url-status = dead }}

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 the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. There, he played amongst others with Uli Hoeneß, the later Bayern Munich player 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 German second division side VfB Stuttgart.{{cite web | title = Ottmar Hitzfeld | publisher = fussballdaten.de | access-date = 17 August 2008 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/hitzfeldottmar/ | language = de}} At the Swabian side, he was part of a legendary "100 goal offense" (the goal difference that season being 100:36) and in one match against SSV Jahn Regensburg he scored six goals, still the record for a 2. Bundesliga player.{{cite web | url = http://www.weltfussball.de/statistik/2-bundesliga/5/ | title = 2. Bundesliga » Statistik » Die meisten Tore eines Spielers pro Spiel |trans-title=2. Bundesliga » Statistics » he most goals by a player in a game | publisher = weltfussball.de | access-date = 21 September 2012}} After two years, in 1977, the team achieved promotion to the first division, the Bundesliga. 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. After three years with Stuttgart, Hitzfeld returned to what by then had become his second home, Switzerland. There, he played from 1978 to 1980 with FC Lugano before joining FC Luzern, where he finished his playing career in 1983, aged 34.

During the summer of 1983, Hitzfeld signed his first coaching contract with SC 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 the Nationalliga A, for the first and only time in the clubs history.{{cite web | last = Erik Garin | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit84.html | title = Switzerland 1983/84 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date = 2019-11-16}} In 1984, he followed an offer to coach FC Aarau, where he settled for four years. His tenure there was crowned with his first title as coach, the 1985 Swiss Cup. Soon he attracted also the attention of the major Swiss club Grasshopper in Zürich. 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.{{cite web | title = Nationale Erfolge | publisher =Grasshopper Club Zürich Official website | access-date = 17 August 2008 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.gcz.ch/index.php?id=47 | language = de}} The next year, he followed up with the double before finishing his engagement with the defence of the Swiss Championship in 1991.{{cite web | title = Ottmar Hitzfeld | publisher = WorldSoccer | access-date = 17 August 2008 | date = 2 September 2003 | url = http://www.worldsoccer.com/profiles/player_profile_profile_55736.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211102651/http://www.worldsoccer.com/profiles/player_profile_profile_55736.html | archive-date = 11 December 2008 | url-status = dead }}

In 1991, Hitzfeld became manager of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.{{cite web|title=Borussia Dortmund|url=https://www.kicker.de/borussia-dortmund/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 January 2014|language=de}} In his first year, he and his assistant Michael Henke, with whom he would collaborate for the next 13 years, took the team to second spot in the league, securing a 1992–93 UEFA Cup place. The following season, Dortmund reached the finals of this competition, but both matches were lost against Juventus. In 1995, he gained his first Bundesliga title with Dortmund, their first trophy since the DFB-Pokal in 1989, 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 the UEFA Champions League final, where another encounter with Juventus was due. This time, Borussia prevailed 3–1 in Munich's Olympiastadion against the team from northern Italy which featured Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, and Christian Vieri, amongst others. For his success, Hitzfeld was rewarded for the first time with the "World Coach of the Year" award,{{cite web |date=17 May 2008 |title=Ottmar Hitzfeld, General a.D. |url=http://www.bundesliga.de/de/liga/news/2007/index.php?f=93145.php |access-date=17 August 2008 |publisher=bundesliga.de |language=de}} 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 the 1997 Intercontinental Cup against Cruzeiro from Brazil. He finished with a record of 144 wins, 63 draws, and 65 losses.

In 1998, Hitzfeld was hired by Germany's most successful club, Bayern Munich.{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 January 2014|language=de}} In his first year, he led the club to renewed championship glories, winning the league title by 15 points,{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/|publisher=kicker|access-date=3 August 2016|language=de}} a record margin. However, the club lost the DFB-Pokal final to Werder Bremen on penalties.{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/1998-99|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=3 August 2016|language=de}} Most important was their run to the Champions League final. The final is remembered for the dramatic Manchester United comeback inside the injury time period. Trailing 1–0, United scored two goals in stoppage time, condemning Bayern to a stunning defeat.{{cite news|author1=Wolfgang Tobien|author2=Karlheinz Wild|author3=Rainer Franke|title=Tragödie für Bayern! Baslers Treffer reichte nicht|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-manunited-1999-champions-league-503041/spielbericht|access-date=3 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}} They had also won the DFB-Ligapokal.{{cite web|title=Germany » League Cup 1998 » Schedule|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/all_matches/ligapokal-1998/|publisher=World Football|access-date=4 August 2016}}

In the next season, domestic success was improved upon with Bayern winning the 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.{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/1999-00/0/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725093304/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/1999-00/0/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2009|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}} Hitzfeld's team depended on the neighbours from Unterhaching, a suburb of Munich, to beat Bayer Leverkusen on the last day play to secure the title. The DFB-Pokal final was won against Bremen, the team which beat Bayern in the previous final. In the Champions League, Bayern was stopped in the semifinal by eventual winners Real Madrid.

In the 2000–01 season, Hitzfeld led Bayern not only to the league championship hat-trick,{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2000-01/0/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725095053/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2000-01/0/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2009|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}} but once again into the Champions 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 against Valencia. This made Hitzfeld only the second coach after Ernst Happel to win the major European trophy with two teams.

Again, he was recognized with the honour of "World Coach of the Year", but this time he remained in control over his team in the ensuing 2001 Intercontinental Cup final against Boca Juniors from Argentina. A sole goal by Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour in 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.{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2001-02/0/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725095104/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2001-02/0/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2009|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}}

The 2002–03 season started on 25 July 2002 when Bayern were knocked out of the DFB-Ligapokal in a shootout by Hertha BSC.{{cite news|title=Pinto sorgte für die Entscheidung|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-hertha-2002-liga-pokal-568288/analyse|access-date=31 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=25 July 2002|language=de}} In the 2002–03 season, Bayern once more dominated German football, claiming the league title{{cite news|title=Kuffour staubt mit dem Knie ab|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-klautern-2003-bundesliga-572434/analyse|access-date=30 November 2014|publisher=kicker|date=2 May 2003|language=de}} four matches before the end of the Bundesliga season.{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2002-03|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 November 2014|language=de}} Bayern won with a 16-point lead over second-place Stuttgart.{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2002-03/0/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725095110/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/1-bundesliga/2002-03/0/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2009|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}} With a 3–1 win over Kaiserslautern in the 2003 DFB-Pokal final, Hitzfeld's team secured another double.{{cite news|title=Bayern München holt das "Double"|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-klautern-2003-dfb-pokal-629447/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=31 May 2003|language=de}}

Bayern started the 2003–04 season by getting knocked out of the DFB-Ligapokal in the semi-finals after losing a shootout Hamburger SV on 22 July 2003.{{cite web|title=Germany » League Cup 2003 » Schedule|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/all_matches/ligapokal-2003/|publisher=World Football|access-date=1 August 2016}} The 2003–04 season yielded no titles after Bayern finished in second place,{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2003-04/34/0|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}} and getting knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the quarter-finals by Alemannia Aachen,{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2003-04|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}} and getting knocked out of UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid in the round of 16. The club sacked Hitzfeld with a year remaining year of the contract of the 55-year-old coach.{{cite news|title=Hitzfeld to leave Bayern|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3673441.stm|access-date=18 January 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 May 2004}}{{cite news|title=Bayern 'sack Hitzfeld'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/18/newsstory.sport15|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=18 May 2004}} His final match was a 2–0 win against SC Freiburg on 22 May 2004. Hitzfeld finished with a record of 193 wins, 73 draws, 53 losses.

Hitzfeld had an offer to take over the reins of the Germany national team, but preferred to take a break from the game.{{cite web | title = Ottmar Hitzfeld turns down offer to become Germany coach | publisher = German News | access-date = 17 August 2008 | date = 1 July 2004 | url = http://www.germnews.de/dn/2004/07/01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211132055/http://www.germnews.de/dn/2004/07/01 | archive-date = 11 December 2008 | url-status = dead }} On 1 February 2007, following the sacking of Felix Magath, he returned to Bayern Munich.{{cite news|title=Hitzfeld beerbt Magath|url=https://www.kicker.de/hitzfeld-beerbt-magath-360934/artikel|access-date=1 August 2016|newspaper=kicker|date=31 January 2007|language=de}} His first match back was a 3–0 loss against 1. FC Nürnberg.{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2006-07|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}} Hopes that he might lead Bayern to another championship,{{cite web | title=Hitzfeld return restores dreams of glory | access-date =18 August 2008 | date = 1 February 2007 | url = http://www.fcbayern.t-home.de/en/news/news/2007/10662.php}} despite trailing by eight points with 15 games remaining, were not fulfilled, though. Eventually, Bayern finished fourth, thereby failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in more than a decade.{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2006-07/34/0|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}} A multimillion spending spree before the new season helped Hitzfeld to lead the club to a new phase of domestic dominance, winning the DFB-Ligapokal,{{cite web|title=Germany » League Cup 2007 » Schedule|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/all_matches/ligapokal-2007/|publisher=World Football|access-date=1 August 2016}} the DFB-Pokal,{{cite news|title=Nummer 14 für die Bayern|url=https://www.kicker.de/dortmund-gegen-bayern-2008-dfb-pokal-851266/analyse|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de|date=19 April 2008}} and the league championship.{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2007-08/34/0|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}} After several high wins and many draws, Bayern's UEFA Cup campaign ended in the semifinal with a humbling 4–0 defeat by eventual winner Zenit St. Petersburg. During the season, Hitzfeld had announced that he would not be available for another season at the helm and Jürgen Klinsmann became his successor at Bayern. His final match was a 4–1 win against Hertha BSC.{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2007-08|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}

File:Ottmar Hitzfeld - Switzerland vs. Argentina, 29th February 2012.jpg

Hitzfeld took over as coach of the Swiss national team in summer 2008.{{cite news|title=Hitzfeld holt Pont|url=https://www.kicker.de/hitzfeld-holt-pont-375819/artikel|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=3 March 2008|language=de}} His first match at the helm was a friendly match that finished as a 4–1 win for Switzerland against Cyprus on 20 August 2008.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2008|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2008/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=30 July 2016}} His first competitive match was a 2–2 draw against Israel on 6 September 2008 in qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Switzerland finished FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 0–0 draw against Israel on 14 October 2009.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2009|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2009/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} Switzerland finished top of its qualifying group to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.{{cite web|title=WC Qualifiers Europe 2008/2009 » Group 2|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/wm-quali-europa-2010-gruppe-2/0/|publisher=World Football|access-date=30 July 2016}} Switzerland played Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Italy in friendlies leading up to the FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2010|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2010/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} 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. Although Switzerland won their opening match 1–0 against eventual champions Spain,{{cite news|title=Fernandes sorgt für ein spanisches Fiasko|url=https://www.kicker.de/spanien-gegen-schweiz-2010-weltmeisterschaft-833338/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=16 June 2010|language=de}} they went on to lose 1–0 against Chile{{cite news|title=Nur Gonzalez überwindet Benaglio|url=https://www.kicker.de/chile-gegen-schweiz-2010-weltmeisterschaft-833341/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=21 June 2010|language=de}} and get a 0–0 draw against Honduras which eliminated their chances of qualifying from Group H.{{cite news|title=Derdiyok & Co. enttäuschen|url=https://www.kicker.de/schweiz-gegen-honduras-2010-weltmeisterschaft-833343/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=25 June 2010|language=de}}

Switzerland failed to qualify for Euro 2012, finishing third behind England and Montenegro in their qualifying group.{{cite web|title=EURO Qualifiers 2010/2011 » Group G|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/em-qualifikation-2010-2011-gruppe-g/0/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} Switzerland started qualifying with two consecutive losses to England and Montenegro. Then they defeated Wales in their final qualifier of 2010. They stretched their undefeated streak to four matches after a draw against England and a draw and a win against Bulgaria.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2011|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2011/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} The undefeated streak ended when Switzerland lost to Wales before defeating Montenegro in their final qualifying match. Switzerland started 2012 with a 3–1 loss to Argentina on 29 February 2012 and a 5–3 win against Germany on 26 May 2012.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2012|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2012/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} Then Switzerland lost to Romania four days later. Switzerland defeated Croatia on 15 August 2012.

Hitzfeld led Switzerland to a second successive FIFA World Cup as his team remained unbeaten throughout the qualifying campaign.{{cite web|title=WM-Qualifikation Europa - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/wm-qualifikation-europa/spieltag/2012-13/11/2524|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}} Switzerland started qualifying with a pair of 2–0 wins against Slovenia on 7 September 2012 and Albania on 11 September 2012. Then they drew Norway 1–1 on 12 October 2012 and defeated Iceland 2–0 four days later. In the final match of 2012, Switzerland defeated Tunisia 2–1 in a friendly match. Switzerland started 2013 with a 0–0 draw against Greece on 6 February 2013.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2013|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2013/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} Switzerland's next two matches were against Cyprus. 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. Switzerland beat Brazil on 14 August 2013. Switzerland finished out qualifying with a 4–4 draw against Iceland and three consecutive wins against Norway, Albania, and Slovenia. On 17 October 2013, Hitzfeld announced that he would be retiring after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|title=Hitzfeld hört nach der WM auf|url=https://www.kicker.de/hitzfeld-hoert-nach-der-wm-auf-593698/artikel|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=17 October 2013|language=de}} Switzerland finished 2013 with a 2–1 loss against South Korea in a friendly match. Leading into the FIFA World Cup, Switzerland drew 2–2 with Croatia and defeated Jamaica and Peru.{{cite web|title=Switzerland » Fixtures & Results 2014|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/schweiz-team/2014/3/|publisher=World Football|access-date=31 July 2016}} Switzerland defeated Ecuador,{{cite news|title=Joker-Duo: Mehmedi macht's vor, Seferovic nach|url=https://www.kicker.de/schweiz-gegen-ecuador-2014-weltmeisterschaft-1417843/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=15 June 2014|language=de}} lost to France,{{cite news|title=5:2! Benzema und Co. zerbröseln die Schweiz|url=https://www.kicker.de/schweiz-gegen-frankreich-2014-weltmeisterschaft-1417845/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=20 June 2014|language=de}} and defeated Honduras{{cite news|title=Shaqiri ballert die Schweiz ins Achtelfinale|url=https://www.kicker.de/honduras-gegen-schweiz-2014-weltmeisterschaft-1417847/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=25 June 2014|language=de}} to finish second in Group E.{{cite web|title=Weltmeisterschaft - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/weltmeisterschaft/spieltag/2014/3/2609|website=Kicker|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}} 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.{{cite news|title=Di Maria zittert Argentinien ins Viertelfinale|url=https://www.kicker.de/argentinien-gegen-schweiz-2014-weltmeisterschaft-1417873/analyse|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=kicker|date=1 July 2014|language=de}} Vladimir Petković succeeded Hitzfeld.{{cite news|title=Petkovic to become Switzerland coach|url=http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/1661462/vladimir-petkovic-to-succeed-ottmar-hitzfeld-with-switzerland|access-date=30 July 2016|work=ESPN FC|agency=PA Sport|publisher=ESPN|date=23 December 2013}}

He announced his retirement from coaching after the World Cup with Vladimir Petković taking over on 1 July 2014.

It was said that Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande once offered Hitzfeld an 18–month-long contract, with a value of 24 million euros. However, he turned it down.{{cite news|last1=Wöckener|first1=Lutz|title=Ottmar Hitzfeld verzichtet auf 24 Millionen Euro|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/internationale-ligen/article143532363/Ottmar-Hitzfeld-verzichtet-auf-24-Millionen-Euro.html|access-date=4 July 2015|publisher=Die Welt|date=4 July 2015|language=de}}

File:Hitzfeld und Hoffmann.jpg

Hitzfeld was born in Lörrach in the valley of the Wiese in southwest Germany, close to the Swiss border. He grew up there and is the youngest of five children. Hitzfeld saidInterviews on TV programme "Football's Greatest Managers", Sky TV, UK, May 2012. Similar comments in German; {{cite web | url = http://www.suedkurier.de/sport/fussball/erstebundesliga/news/Burn-out-Syndrom-und-Depressionen-Ottmar-Hitzfeld-redet-Klartext;art548,5253697 | title = "Burn-out-Syndrom" und Depressionen: Ottmar Hitzfeld redet Klartext | language = de | publisher = suedkurier.de | date = 29 November 2011 | first = Thomas | last = Domjahn | access-date = 21 September 2012}} 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 the World War II general Otto Hitzfeld.

Hitzfeld is married to Beatrix Hitzfeld. They have one child and three grandchildren.{{cite web |last1=Bähr |first1=Mirko |title=Hitzfeld gewährt tiefe persönliche Einblicke |url=https://www.verlagshaus-jaumann.de/inhalt.fussball-hitzfeld-gewaehrt-tiefe-persoenliche-einblicke.784bd31b-eeda-4239-8af1-a72352f6345c.html |access-date=30 August 2020}}

The Ottmar Hitzfeld Arena, the highest in Europe, is named after him.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49760851|title=Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium: What's it like to play at Europe's 'highest' football stadium?|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 October 2019}}

{{updated|1 July 2014}}

Basel

• Swiss Super League: 1971–72, 1972–73
• Swiss Cup: 1975

• Swiss Super League top goalscorer: 1972–73 (18 goals, shared with Ove Grahn)

SC Zug

• Nationalliga B champions: 1983–84

Aarau

• Swiss Cup: 1985

Grasshopper

• Swiss Super League: 1989–90, 1990–91
• Swiss Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
• Swiss Super Cup: 1989

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 1994–95, 1995–96
• DFB-Supercup: 1995, 1996
• UEFA Champions League: 1996–97
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1993

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007–08
• DFB-Pokal: 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2007–08
• DFB-Ligapokal: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007
• UEFA Champions League: 2000–01; runner-up: 1998–99
• Intercontinental Cup: 2001

• German Football Manager of the Year: 2008{{cite web|url=http://www.trainer-baade.de/alle-trainer-des-jahres/|title=Alle Trainer des Jahres|website=Trainer Baade|access-date=21 September 2020|language=de}}
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 1997, 2001
• World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year: 1997
• UEFA Coach of the Year: 2001
• ESPN 13th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/news/story/_/id/1511236|title=Greatest Managers, No. 13: Hitzfeld|date=6 August 2013|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=29 November 2019}}
• World Soccer 17th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013{{cite web|title=The Greatest Manager of all time|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-manager-of-all-time-341473|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=4 July 2013}}{{cite web|title=The Greatest XI: how the panel voted|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=2 July 2013|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101233404/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|url-status=dead}}
• France Football 19th Greatest Manager of All time: 2019{{cite web |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/magazine/?prov=W-HP-LBMU|title=Top 50 des coaches de l'historie|publisher=France Football |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=19 March 2019}}

{{reflist}}

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Category:1949 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Lörrach

Category:Footballers from Freiburg (region)

Category:German men's footballers

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:2. Bundesliga players

Category:FC Basel players

Category:FC Lugano players

Category:VfB Stuttgart players

Category:FC Aarau managers

Category:German football managers

Category:2010 FIFA World Cup managers

Category:2014 FIFA World Cup managers

Category:Borussia Dortmund managers

Category:FC Bayern Munich managers

Category:Footballers at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic footballers for West Germany

Category:West German men's footballers

Category:Germany men's B international footballers

Category:FC Luzern players

Category:Switzerland national football team managers

Category:Bundesliga managers

Category:UEFA Champions League–winning managers

Category:Expatriate football managers in Switzerland

Category:German expatriate football managers

Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich managers

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:West German expatriate men's footballers

Category:West German expatriate football managers

Category:West German expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland