View source for Ottmar Hitzfeld

{{Short description|German football player and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Ottmar Hitzfeld
| image          = Otmar Hitzfeld in Bulgaria (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Hitzfeld coaching [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] in 2011
| full_name      =
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|1|12}}
| height         = {{height|m=1.78}}
| birth_place    = [[Lörrach]], Germany
| youthyears1    = 1960–1967
| youthclubs1    = TuS Stetten
| currentclub    =
| position       = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears2    = 1967–1968
| youthclubs2    = FV Lörrach
| years1         = 1971–1975
| clubs1         = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| caps1          = 92
| goals1         = 66
| years2         = 1975–1978
| clubs2         = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| caps2          = 80
| goals2         = 38
| years3         = 1978–1980
| clubs3         = [[FC Lugano|Lugano]]
| caps3          = 55
| goals3         = 35
| years4         = 1980–1983
| clubs4         = [[FC Luzern|Luzern]]
| caps4          = 72
| goals4         = 30
| totalcaps      = 300
| totalgoals     = 169
| nationalyears1 = 1972
| nationalteam1  = [[Germany Olympic football team|West Germany (Olympic)]]
| nationalcaps1  = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| manageryears1  = 1983–1984
| managerclubs1  = [[Zug 94|SC Zug]]
| manageryears2  = 1984–1988
| managerclubs2  = [[FC Aarau|Aarau]]
| manageryears3  = 1988–1991
| managerclubs3  = [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]]
| manageryears4  = 1991–1997
| managerclubs4  = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| manageryears5  = 1998–2004
| managerclubs5  = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| manageryears6  = 2007–2008
| managerclubs6  = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| manageryears7  = 2008–2014
| manageryears8  = 2016–
| managerclubs7  = [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
}}

'''Ottmar Hitzfeld''' ({{IPA|de|ˈʔɔtmaːɐ̯ ˈhɪt͡sfɛlt}}; born 12 January 1949) is a German former professional [[Association football|football]] player and a former manager. He accumulated a total of 18 major titles, mostly in his tenures with [[Grasshopper Club Zürich]], [[Borussia Dortmund]] and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].

A striker in his playing days, Hitzfeld won two [[Swiss Super League]] titles ([[1971–72 Nationalliga A|1971–72]], [[1972–73 Nationalliga A|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 five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. He won the [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1996–97 Champions League]] with Dortmund, beating a star-studded Juventus team in the final. He won the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|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 [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup/UEFA Champions League]] with two clubs, along with [[Ernst Happel]], [[Luis Enrique]], [[Pep Guardiola]], [[José Mourinho]], [[Jupp Heynckes]], and [[Carlo Ancelotti]].

==Playing career==
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]].<ref name="hitzfeldattm">{{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/}}</ref> 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 [[Swiss Cup|cup]] with Basel.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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 [[FC Bayern Munich|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 [[2. Bundesliga|second division]] side [[VfB Stuttgart]].<ref name="hitzfeldatFD">{{cite web | title = Ottmar Hitzfeld | publisher = fussballdaten.de | access-date = 17 August 2008 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/hitzfeldottmar/ | language = de}}</ref> At the [[Swabia]]n 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 [[List of goalscorers with six or more goals in an association football game|record]] for a 2. Bundesliga player.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="hitzfeldatFD"/> 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 [[AC Lugano|FC Lugano]] before joining [[FC Luzern]], where he finished his playing career in 1983, aged 34.

==Managerial career==

=== 1983–1991: Coaching in Switzerland ===
During the summer of 1983, Hitzfeld signed his first coaching contract with [[Zug 94|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 [[Swiss Super League|Nationalliga A]], for the first and only time in the clubs history.<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland 1983/84">{{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}}</ref> 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 Club Zürich|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The next year, he followed up with the double before finishing his engagement with the defence of the [[Swiss Super League#League Champions|Swiss Championship]] in 1991.<ref name ="hitzfeldatWS">{{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 }}</ref>

===1991–1998: Borussia Dortmund===
In 1991, Hitzfeld became manager of [[Bundesliga]] club [[Borussia Dortmund]].<ref name="Borussia Dortmund – Trainerhistorie">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[1991–92 Bundesliga|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 FC|Juventus]]. In 1995, he gained his first [[German football champions|Bundesliga title]] with Dortmund, their first trophy since the [[DFB-Pokal]] in [[1988–89 DFB-Pokal|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 [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League final]], where another encounter with Juventus was due. This time, Borussia prevailed 3–1 in Munich's [[Olympiastadion (Munich)|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,<ref name="hitzfeldatBL">{{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}}</ref> 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 Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]] from Brazil. He finished with a record of 144 wins, 63 draws, and 65 losses.<ref name="Borussia Dortmund – Trainerhistorie"/>

===1998–2008: Bayern Munich===

====First spell====
In 1998, Hitzfeld was hired by Germany's most successful club, [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie">{{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}}</ref> In his first year, he led the club to renewed championship glories, winning the [[1998–99 Bundesliga|league title]] by 15 points,<ref name="1998–99 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/|publisher=kicker|access-date=3 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> a record margin. However, the club lost the [[1998–99 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]] final to [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] on penalties.<ref name="1998–99 season">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/1998-99|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=3 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> Most important was their run to the [[1999 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League final]]. The final is remembered for the dramatic [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] comeback inside the injury time period. Trailing 1–0, United scored two goals in stoppage time, condemning Bayern to a stunning defeat.<ref>{{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}}</ref> They had also won the [[1998 DFB-Ligapokal|DFB-Ligapokal]].<ref name="1998 league cup">{{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}}</ref>

In the next season, domestic success was improved upon with Bayern winning [[Double (association football)|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.<ref name="1999–2000 league table">{{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 (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> Hitzfeld's team depended on the neighbours from [[SpVgg Unterhaching|Unterhaching]], a suburb of Munich, to beat [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] on the last day play to secure the title. The [[1999–2000 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]] final was won against Bremen, the team which beat Bayern in the previous final. In the [[1999–2000 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], Bayern was stopped in the semifinal by eventual winners [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].

In the [[2000–01 FC Bayern Munich season|2000–01 season]], Hitzfeld led Bayern not only to the [[2000–01 Bundesliga|league championship]] hat-trick,<ref name="2000–01 league table">{{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 (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> but once again into the [[2001 UEFA Champions League Final|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 CF|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",<ref name="hitzfeldatWS"/> but this time he remained in control over his team in the ensuing [[2001 Intercontinental Cup]] final against [[Club Atlético Boca Juniors|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.<ref name="2001–02 league table">{{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 (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=4 August 2016|language=de}}</ref>

The [[2002–03 FC Bayern Munich season|2002–03 season]] started on 25 July 2002 when Bayern were knocked out of the [[2002 DFB-Ligapokal|DFB-Ligapokal]] in a shootout by Hertha BSC.<ref name="Pinto sorgte für die Entscheidung">{{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}}</ref> In the 2002–03 season, Bayern once more dominated German football, claiming the [[2002–03 Bundesliga|league title]]<ref name="Kuffour staubt mit dem Knie ab">{{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}}</ref> four matches before the end of the Bundesliga season.<ref name="2002–03 season">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2002-03|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 November 2014|language=de}}</ref> Bayern won with a 16-point lead over second-place Stuttgart.<ref name="2002–03 league table">{{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 (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> With a 3–1 win over [[1. FC Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]] in the [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal#Final|2003 DFB-Pokal final]], Hitzfeld's team secured another double.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Bayern started the [[2003–04 FC Bayern Munich season|2003–04 season]] by getting knocked out of the [[2003 DFB-Ligapokal|DFB-Ligapokal]] in the semi-finals after losing a shootout Hamburger SV on 22 July 2003.<ref name="2003 league cup">{{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}}</ref> The 2003–04 season yielded no titles after Bayern finished in second place,<ref name="2003–04 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2003-04/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> and getting knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the quarter-finals by [[Alemannia Aachen]],<ref name="2003–04 season">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2003-04|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}}</ref> and getting knocked out of [[2003–04 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] by Real Madrid in the round of 16.<ref name="2003–04 season"/> The club sacked Hitzfeld with a year remaining year of the contract of the 55-year-old coach.<ref name="Hitzfeld to leave Bayern">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> His final match was a 2–0 win against [[SC Freiburg]] on 22 May 2004.<ref name="2003–04 season"/> Hitzfeld finished with a record of 193 wins, 73 draws, 53 losses.<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>

====Second spell====
Hitzfeld had an offer to take over the reins of the [[Germany national football team|Germany national team]], but preferred to take a break from the game.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> On 1 February 2007, following the sacking of [[Felix Magath]], he returned to Bayern Munich.<ref name="Hitzfeld beerbt Magath">{{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}}</ref> His first match back was a 3–0 loss against 1. FC Nürnberg.<ref name="2006–07 season">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2006-07|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> Hopes that he might lead Bayern to another championship,<ref>{{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}}</ref> despite trailing by eight points with 15 games remaining, were not fulfilled, though. Eventually, Bayern finished fourth, thereby failing to qualify for the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] for the first time in more than a decade.<ref name="2006–07 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2006-07/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> A multimillion spending spree before the new season helped Hitzfeld to lead the club to a new phase of domestic dominance, winning the [[2007 DFB-Ligapokal|DFB-Ligapokal]],<ref name="2007 league cup">{{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}}</ref> the [[2007–08 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the [[2007–08 Bundesliga|league championship]].<ref name="2007–08 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2007-08/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref> After several high wins and many draws, Bayern's [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|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.<ref name="2007–08 season">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=https://www.kicker.de/fc-bayern-muenchen/spielplan/bundesliga/2007-08|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 August 2016|language=de}}</ref>

=== 2008–2014: Swiss national team ===
[[File:Ottmar Hitzfeld - Switzerland vs. Argentina, 29th February 2012.jpg|thumb|Hitzfeld at a 2012 press conference]]
Hitzfeld took over as coach of the [[Switzerland national football team|Swiss national team]] in summer 2008.<ref name="Hitzfeld holt Pont">{{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}}</ref> His first match at the helm was a friendly match that finished as a 4–1 win for Switzerland against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] on 20 August 2008.<ref name="Switzerland 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}}</ref> His first competitive match was a 2–2 draw against [[Israel national football team|Israel]] on 6 September 2008 in [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|qualifying]] for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="Switzerland 2008"/> Switzerland finished FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 0–0 draw against Israel on 14 October 2009.<ref name="Switzerland 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}}</ref> Switzerland finished top of its qualifying group to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Switzerland played [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]], [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in friendlies leading up to the FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Switzerland 2010">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Switzerland 2010"/> Although Switzerland won their opening match 1–0 against eventual champions [[Spain national football team|Spain]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> they went on to lose 1–0 against Chile<ref>{{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}}</ref> and get a 0–0 draw against Honduras which eliminated their chances of qualifying from [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|Group H]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Switzerland failed to qualify for [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]], finishing third behind [[England national football team|England]] and [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]] in their [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group G|qualifying group]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Switzerland started qualifying with two consecutive losses to England and Montenegro.<ref name="Switzerland 2010"/> Then they defeated [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in their final qualifier of 2010.<ref name="Switzerland 2010"/> They stretched their undefeated streak to four matches after a draw against England and a draw and a win against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]].<ref name="Switzerland 2011">{{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}}</ref> The undefeated streak ended when Switzerland lost to Wales before defeating Montenegro in their final qualifying match.<ref name="Switzerland 2011"/> Switzerland started 2012 with a 3–1 loss to [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] on 29 February 2012 and a 5–3 win against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] on 26 May 2012.<ref name="Switzerland 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}}</ref> Then Switzerland lost to [[Romania national football team|Romania]] four days later.<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/> Switzerland defeated [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] on 15 August 2012.<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/>

Hitzfeld led Switzerland to a second successive FIFA World Cup as his team remained unbeaten throughout the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E|qualifying campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|title=WM-Qualifikation Europa - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/wm-qualifikation-europa/spieltag/2012-13/11/2524|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}}</ref> Switzerland started qualifying with a pair of 2–0 wins against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]] on 7 September 2012 and [[Albania national football team|Albania]] on 11 September 2012.<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/> Then they drew [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 1–1 on 12 October 2012 and defeated [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] 2–0 four days later.<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/> In the final match of 2012, Switzerland defeated [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]] 2–1 in a friendly match.<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/> Switzerland started 2013 with a 0–0 draw against [[Greece national football team|Greece]] on 6 February 2013.<ref name="Switzerland 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}}</ref> Switzerland's next two matches were against Cyprus.<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/> 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.<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/> Switzerland beat [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] on 14 August 2013.<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/> Switzerland finished out qualifying with a 4–4 draw against Iceland and three consecutive wins against Norway, Albania, and Slovenia.<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/> On 17 October 2013, Hitzfeld announced that he would be retiring after the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="Hitzfeld hört nach der WM auf">{{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}}</ref> Switzerland finished 2013 with a 2–1 loss against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] in a friendly match.<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/> Leading into the FIFA World Cup, Switzerland drew 2–2 with Croatia and defeated [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]] and [[Peru national football team|Peru]].<ref name="Switzerland 2014">{{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}}</ref> Switzerland defeated [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> lost to [[France national football team|France]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and defeated [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> to finish second in Group E.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weltmeisterschaft - Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/weltmeisterschaft/spieltag/2014/3/2609|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=30 July 2016|language=de}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Switzerland 2014"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Vladimir Petković]] succeeded Hitzfeld.<ref name="Petkovic to become Switzerland coach">{{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}}</ref>

===Retirement===
He announced his retirement from coaching after the World Cup<ref name="Hitzfeld hört nach der WM auf"/> with [[Vladimir Petković]] taking over on 1 July 2014.<ref name="Petkovic to become Switzerland coach"/>

It was said that [[Chinese Super League]] club [[Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]] once offered Hitzfeld an 18–month-long contract, with a value of 24 million euros. However, he turned it down.<ref name="Ottmar Hitzfeld verzichtet auf 24 Millionen Euro">{{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}}</ref>

===Overview===

====International level====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year!!colspan="7"|Competitions!!colspan="7"|Friendly matches!!rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!{{Tooltip|M|Matches coached}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}!!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}!!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}!!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}!!{{Tooltip|M|Matches coached}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}!!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}!!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}!!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|2008
{{WDL|4|2|1|1|for=7|against=6}}
{{WDL|2|2|0|0|for=5|against=1}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2008"/>
|-
|2009
{{WDL|6|4|2|0|for=11|against=2}}
{{WDL|3|0|2|1|for=1|against=2}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2009"/>
|-
|2010
{{WDL|6|2|1|3|for=6|against=6}}
{{WDL|6|1|3|2|for=5|against=7}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2010"/>
|-
|2011
{{WDL|5|2|2|1|for=7|against=5}}
{{WDL|4|2|2|0|for=3|against=1}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2011"/>
|-
|2012
{{WDL|4|3|1|0|for=7|against=1}}
{{WDL|5|3|0|2|for=12|against=10}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2012"/>
|-
|2013
{{WDL|6|4|2|0|for=10|against=5}}
{{WDL|3|1|1|1|for=2|against=2}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2013"/>
|-
|2014
{{WDL|4|2|0|2|for=7|against=7}}
{{WDL|3|2|1|0|for=5|against=2}}
|<ref name="Switzerland 2014"/>
|-
!Totals
{{WDLtot|35|19|9|7|for=55|against=32}}
{{WDLtot|26|11|9|6|for=33|against=25}}
|—
|}

==Personal life==
[[File:Hitzfeld und Hoffmann.jpg|thumb|Hitzfeld (right) in 2005]]
Hitzfeld was born in [[Lörrach]] in the valley of the [[Wiese (river)|Wiese]] in southwest Germany, close to the Swiss border. He grew up there and is the youngest of five children. Hitzfeld said<ref>Interviews 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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The [[Ottmar Hitzfeld Arena]], the highest in Europe, is named after him.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|1 July 2014}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="6"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[FC Zug|Zug]]
| 1983
| 1984
{{WDL|32|17|9|6}}
|
|-
| [[FC Aarau|Aarau]]
| 1984
| 1988
{{WDL|162|85|37|40}}
|
|-
| [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshopper Club]]
| 1988
| 1991
{{WDL|142|73|36|33}}
|
|-
| [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| 1 July 1991<ref name="Borussia Dortmund – Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 June 1997<ref name="Borussia Dortmund – Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|272|144|63|65}}
|<ref name="Borussia Dortmund – Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
| [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| 1 July 1998<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 June 2004<ref name="Hitzfeld to leave Bayern"/>
{{WDL|319|193|73|53}}
|<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
| Bayern Munich
| 1 February 2007<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 June 2008<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|76|45|20|11}}
|<ref name="Bayern München – Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
| [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
| 1 July 2008
| 1 July 2014
{{WDL|64|33|18|13}}
|
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|1067|590|256|221}}
!—
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Basel''' 
*[[Swiss Super League]]: [[1971–72 Nationalliga A|1971–72]], [[1972–73 Nationalliga A|1972–73]]
*[[Swiss Cup]]: 1975

====Individual====
*[[Swiss Super League]] top goalscorer: [[1972–73 Nationalliga A|1972–73]] (18 goals, shared with [[Ove Grahn]])

===Manager===
'''SC Zug'''
*Nationalliga B champions: 1983–84

'''Aarau''' 
*[[Swiss Cup]]: 1985

'''Grasshopper'''
*Swiss Super League: [[1989–90 Nationalliga A|1989–90]], [[1990–91 Nationalliga A|1990–91]]
*Swiss Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90
*[[Swiss Super Cup]]: 1989

'''Borussia Dortmund'''
*[[Bundesliga]]: [[1994–95 Bundesliga|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Bundesliga|1995–96]]
*[[DFB-Supercup]]: [[1995 DFB-Supercup|1995]], [[1996 DFB-Supercup|1996]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1996–97]]
*[[UEFA Cup]] runner-up: [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|1993]]

'''Bayern Munich'''
*Bundesliga: [[1998–99 Bundesliga|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Bundesliga|1999–2000]], [[2000–01 Bundesliga|2000–01]], [[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002–03]], [[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08]]
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1999–2000 DFB-Pokal|1999–2000]], [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal|2002–03]], [[2007–08 DFB-Pokal|2007–08]]
*[[DFB-Ligapokal]]: [[1998 DFB-Ligapokal|1998]], [[1999 DFB-Ligapokal|1999]], [[2000 DFB-Ligapokal|2000]], [[2007 DFB-Ligapokal|2007]]
*UEFA Champions League: [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|2000–01]]; runner-up: [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|1998–99]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[2001 Intercontinental Cup|2001]]

====Individual====
*[[German Football Manager of the Year]]: 2008<ref name="Trainer">{{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}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS World's Best Club Coach]]: 1997, 2001
*[[World Soccer (magazine)#Men's World Manager of the Year|World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year]]: 1997
*[[UEFA Club Football Awards#Coach(es) of the Year|UEFA Coach of the Year]]: 2001
* [[ESPN]] 13th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013<ref name="espn">{{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}}</ref>
* [[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest Managers of All Time|World Soccer 17th Greatest Manager of All Time]]: 2013<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="Greatest XI">{{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}}</ref>
*[[France Football]] 19th Greatest Manager of All time: 2019<ref name="Top6FF">{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cci}}


{{Navboxes
| title = International tournaments
| list =
{{West Germany football squad 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{Switzerland squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Switzerland squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{Swiss Super League top scorers}}
{{Intercontinental Cup winning managers}}
{{European Cup / Champions League winning managers}}
{{Bundesliga winning managers}}
{{DFB-Pokal winning managers}}
{{IFFHS World's Best Club Coach}}
{{Football Manager of the Year (Germany)}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Managerial positions
|list1=
{{FC Aarau managers}}
{{Grasshopper-Club Zürich managers}}
{{Borussia Dortmund managers}}
{{Bayern Munich managers}}
{{Switzerland national football team managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitzfeld, Ottmar}}
[[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]]