The German Football Association (DFB) has presented Otto Rehhagel with its “lifetime achievement award” in honour of his outstanding accomplishments as a coach and his contribution to football. Rehhagel is one of only four coaches to receive the prestigious prize, following in the footsteps of Dettmar Cramer, Udo Lattek and Gero Bisanz. DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach presented the accolade to the 75-year-old at a ceremony in Bonn.
Niersbach explained: “Otto Rehhagel has made a vital contribution to German football thanks to his unique approach and his numerous successes. As a coach he won several titles with Werder Bremen. He also made football history by sensationally winning the Bundesliga with newly-promoted Kaiserslautern in 1998 and then lifting the 2004 European Championship title with outsiders Greece. Otto is a great person and a fantastic role model.”
“It’s a great honour for me”
“It’s a great honour for me. I’m absolutely delighted,” said Rehhagel on receiving the award, before passing on a few wise words to coaches looking to make their mark in the game. “The biggest challenge in life is dealing with other people. That’s the discipline every coach must master: dealing with different people on a daily basis. I always treated my players with the utmost respect.” But the 75-year-old was quick to quash speculation that he might make a return to coaching. “Only if Real Madrid come calling,” he said with a smile.
Otto Rehhagel - Bilder einer Karriere
Rehhagel began his playing career with TuS Helene 28 and Rot-Weiss Essen before switching to Hertha BSC when the Bundesliga was founded in 1963. He then moved to Kaiserslautern in 1966, completing 201 games and scoring 23 goals for the club in the Bundesliga by the time he retired in 1972.
Surprise success with Kaiserslautern and Greece
Rehhagel started life as a coach at FV Rockenhausen in 1972, subsequently taking charge of Saarbrücken and Kickers Offenbach before moving to Bremen in 1976. The German’s first real success as a coach came in 1980 when he won the German Cup with Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Rehhagel began a second spell at Bremen in 1981, remaining at the club on the river Weser for 14 years. During that time he steered Werder to the Bundesliga title in 1988 and 1993, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the German Cup in 1991 and 1994. Later in charge of Kaiserslautern, Rehhagel made history: the “Red Devils” became the first promoted side in the history of the Bundesliga to become German champions in 1998.
As a national team coach, Rehhagel guided Greece to a surprise victory over hosts Portugal in the final of the European Championship in 2004 and to the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010. He ended his career at Hertha BSC in 2012.
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The German Football Association (DFB) has presented Otto Rehhagel with its “lifetime achievement award” in honour of his outstanding accomplishments as a coach and his contribution to football. Rehhagel is one of only four coaches to receive the prestigious prize, following in the footsteps of Dettmar Cramer, Udo Lattek and Gero Bisanz. DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach presented the accolade to the 75-year-old at a ceremony in Bonn.
Niersbach explained: “Otto Rehhagel has made a vital contribution to German football thanks to his unique approach and his numerous successes. As a coach he won several titles with Werder Bremen. He also made football history by sensationally winning the Bundesliga with newly-promoted Kaiserslautern in 1998 and then lifting the 2004 European Championship title with outsiders Greece. Otto is a great person and a fantastic role model.”
“It’s a great honour for me”
“It’s a great honour for me. I’m absolutely delighted,” said Rehhagel on receiving the award, before passing on a few wise words to coaches looking to make their mark in the game. “The biggest challenge in life is dealing with other people. That’s the discipline every coach must master: dealing with different people on a daily basis. I always treated my players with the utmost respect.” But the 75-year-old was quick to quash speculation that he might make a return to coaching. “Only if Real Madrid come calling,” he said with a smile.
Otto Rehhagel - Bilder einer Karriere
Rehhagel began his playing career with TuS Helene 28 and Rot-Weiss Essen before switching to Hertha BSC when the Bundesliga was founded in 1963. He then moved to Kaiserslautern in 1966, completing 201 games and scoring 23 goals for the club in the Bundesliga by the time he retired in 1972.
Surprise success with Kaiserslautern and Greece
Rehhagel started life as a coach at FV Rockenhausen in 1972, subsequently taking charge of Saarbrücken and Kickers Offenbach before moving to Bremen in 1976. The German’s first real success as a coach came in 1980 when he won the German Cup with Fortuna Düsseldorf.
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Rehhagel began a second spell at Bremen in 1981, remaining at the club on the river Weser for 14 years. During that time he steered Werder to the Bundesliga title in 1988 and 1993, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the German Cup in 1991 and 1994. Later in charge of Kaiserslautern, Rehhagel made history: the “Red Devils” became the first promoted side in the history of the Bundesliga to become German champions in 1998.
As a national team coach, Rehhagel guided Greece to a surprise victory over hosts Portugal in the final of the European Championship in 2004 and to the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010. He ended his career at Hertha BSC in 2012.
