Hitzfeld: I said ‘No’ to Real Madrid

Hitzfeld: I said ‘No’ to Real Madrid

Former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund manager Hitzfeld claims he had the opportunity to take charge at the Bernabeu in 1997

Ottmar Hitzfeld has revealed that he dismissed an offer from Real Madrid after he had guided Borussia Dortmund to Champions League title in 1997.

The 66-year-old was a standout amongst the most looked for after manager in the game after his effective spell in control at the Westfalenstadion, yet he in the long run picked against a move to Spain for a position as a sporting director at Dortmund.

“I turned down the chance to take charge of Real Madrid after we had won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997,” Hitzfeld told Blick.

Switzerland's German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld reacts during a friendly football match between Switzerland and Peru on June 3, 2014, in Lucerne, central Switzerland, ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.  AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI        (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
Switzerland’s German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld reacts during a friendly football match between Switzerland and Peru on June 3, 2014, in Lucerne, central Switzerland, ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

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“I lost a fair bit of sleep over that decision.

“But in the end I thought ‘I will get fired before I even get the chance to learn Spanish’.”

Madrid in the long run chose to supplant Fabio Capello with Jupp Heynckes taking after Hitzfeld’s choice to dismiss the Santiago Bernabeu side.

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Hitzfeld left his position as brandishing executive at Dortmund in 1998 to assume responsibility of Bayern Munich furthermore trained Switzerland’s national side before resigning after the 2014 World Cup.

Ottmar Hitzfeld was a German football player and retired manager, nicknamed as der General, and “Gottmar Hitzfeld.

He has won a total of 18 major league titles, mostly in his tenures with Grasshopper Club Zürich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

He is regarded as one of the best German Football Manager and also called as successful manager in the international level.

He has been elected “World Coach of the Year” twice; he is one among the five managers to win the UEFA Champions League/European Cup with two different clubs, along with José Mourinho, Ernst Happel, Jupp Heynckes and Carlo Ancelotti.