Udo Lattek has died at the age of 80.
The man had an incredible career. He was youth coach in the DFB set-up when Bayern appointed him to succeed Branko Zebec, shortly after Zebec had led Bayern to their first Bundesliga title. Apparently Lattek was recommended by Beckenbauer.
Having coached Uli Hoeness and Paul Breitner in the national youth team he brought them to Bayern. At Bauyern, he won the league three times in a row between 1972 and 74. He also led them to the European Cup in 1974.
In 1975 he was fired during Bayern's terrible hangover season. By next season he was Mönchengladbach's coach, winning the title in 1976 and 1977 (and almost in 1978).
He left Gladbach in 1979 and had two seasons at Dortmund before going to Barcelona.
At Barcelona he was sacked in a showdown with Diego Maradonna. The player was chronically unpunctual. So one day he was late for the bus to a training camp, and Lattek ordered the driver to leave without Maradonna, who then complained that Lattek couldn't motivate him anymore. A few days later Lattek was sacked.
He then returned to Bayern, who were having one of their melodramatic crises. Lattek was supposed to be an interim coach; he won the title three more times in a row, 1985,86,87.
He filled in at Schalke and Köln (where he was sporting director), and in 2000 came out of retirement to rescue Dortmund from relegation.
One of the great coaches. RIP.
The man had an incredible career. He was youth coach in the DFB set-up when Bayern appointed him to succeed Branko Zebec, shortly after Zebec had led Bayern to their first Bundesliga title. Apparently Lattek was recommended by Beckenbauer.
Having coached Uli Hoeness and Paul Breitner in the national youth team he brought them to Bayern. At Bauyern, he won the league three times in a row between 1972 and 74. He also led them to the European Cup in 1974.
In 1975 he was fired during Bayern's terrible hangover season. By next season he was Mönchengladbach's coach, winning the title in 1976 and 1977 (and almost in 1978).
He left Gladbach in 1979 and had two seasons at Dortmund before going to Barcelona.
At Barcelona he was sacked in a showdown with Diego Maradonna. The player was chronically unpunctual. So one day he was late for the bus to a training camp, and Lattek ordered the driver to leave without Maradonna, who then complained that Lattek couldn't motivate him anymore. A few days later Lattek was sacked.
He then returned to Bayern, who were having one of their melodramatic crises. Lattek was supposed to be an interim coach; he won the title three more times in a row, 1985,86,87.
He filled in at Schalke and Köln (where he was sporting director), and in 2000 came out of retirement to rescue Dortmund from relegation.
One of the great coaches. RIP.
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