Ottmar Hitzfeld

• Honorary Award Recipient of the DFL
• One of the most successful coaches in Bundesliga history

With seven Bundesliga titles, Ottmar Hitzfeld, born in 1949, is the most successful coach in the league’s history after Udo Lattek (8). This title haul started at Borussia Dortmund (1995 and 1996), where he also worked as sporting director. His run of success continued at FC Bayern München (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2008). In addition, he won the UEFA Champions League with both clubs (1997 and 2001), as well as the Intercontinental Cup (2001) and the DFB-Pokal three times (2000, 2003 and 2008) with FC Bayern.

The Lörrach-born striker started his active professional career at FC Basel, where he won the league twice. During this period, he also played in the 1972 Olympic football tournament in Munich alongside the likes of Uli Hoeness, scoring five goals. In 1977, Ottmar Hitzfeld helped to take VfB Stuttgart (1975–1980) back into the Bundesliga, where he made 22 appearances (scoring 5 goals). His other clubs were FC Lugano and FC Luzern. He also began his coaching career in Switzerland, at FC Zug, before moving to FC Aarau and then Grasshopper Club Zürich, where his medal count included two Swiss league titles (1990 and 1991). Respectfully known as “the General”, Ottmar Hitzfeld rounded off his coaching career by taking charge of the Swiss national team, guiding them to the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014, after which he announced his retirement.

^{Photo: Markus Burke}