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Bayern Munich: Five best managers in club’s history

By Kiran Thakare

A picture taken on April 17, 2020 shows a view of the Allianz Arena football stadium lighted in red in Munich, southern Germany. - The German first division Bundesliga team FC Bayern Munich plays home matches at the Allianz Arena. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
A picture taken on April 17, 2020 shows a view of the Allianz Arena football stadium lighted in red in Munich, southern Germany. - The German first division Bundesliga team FC Bayern Munich plays home matches at the Allianz Arena. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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FILES – Picture taken on April 02, 2007, shows Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld giving instructions to his players before their training session, at San Siro stadium in Milan, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan. Hitzfeld confirmed on February 19, 2008, that he agreed on a two-year contract as the next coach of the Swiss team and will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season 2007/2008. Kobi Kuhn set to quit his post as Swiss coach after this June’s Euro 2008 tournament. AFP PHOTO/PACO SERINELLI (Photo credit should read PACO SERINELLI/AFP via Getty Images)
FILES – Picture taken on April 02, 2007, shows Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld giving instructions to his players before their training session, at San Siro stadium in Milan, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan. Hitzfeld confirmed on February 19, 2008, that he agreed on a two-year contract as the next coach of the Swiss team and will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season 2007/2008. Kobi Kuhn set to quit his post as Swiss coach after this June’s Euro 2008 tournament. AFP PHOTO/PACO SERINELLI (Photo credit should read PACO SERINELLI/AFP via Getty Images) /

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Ottmar Hitzfeld was a long-serving successful manager at Bayern Munich. The German had two spells at the club. On the back of a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund, Hitzfeld was first appointed as the head coach of Die Roten in 1998.

Hitzfeld hit the ground running as Bayern won Bundesliga title in his first season. The club also impressed in the Champions League. He was on the verge of winning a big double in his first year, but two quickfire goals from Manchester United in the CL final broke the heart of Bayern fans.

After such a big setback, Bayern recovered under Hitzfeld. The German manager also eventually guided the club to their first Champions League title in 2001. Olivier Kahn made crucial saves in the penalty shootout against Valencia in the CL finals.

Apart from winning the CL title in 2001, Hitzfeld guided the club to multiple Bundesliga titles during his first spell that came to an end in 2004. The club won four league titles and two DFB Pokal during his six-year spell at the club.

Hitzfeld returned to Bavaria in 2007 after Felix Magath was sacked by Bayern. In his first six months, he could not guide the club to the league title, but the team responded well next year and clinched the Bundesliga. Hitzfeld was the architect of Die Roten’s success during the initial years of this century.