Ottmar Hitzfeld

DW-TV: Mr Hitzfeld, at the start of 2007, you came back to Bayern after they released coach Felix Magath. Many people asked themselves: why does the guy do it to himself?

Ottmar Hitzfeld: Yes, that was a gut decision. When Uli Hoeneß called on the 30th or 31st of January and asked if I could help, I said yes immediately. They wanted to part ways with Magath and I said I could help.

Uli Hoeneß: What impressed me so much was the definitive yes that Hitzfeld gave me within about three seconds.

Did you give a wish list of players to Hoeneß. You have a dreamteam.

Ottmar Hitzfeld: Yes, it really is a dreamteam for a coach. I'm very satisfied. When we pulled out the flipchart in April and put together a team with Toni, Klose, Ribery, Ze Roberto, Altintop, Marcell Janssen and all the others, I thought to myself: Can we do that? Is it financially possible? And when all the contract confirmations started to come in - I was constantly being informed about the negotiations - it was obvious we were going to have an amazing team this season.

In 1971, Hitzfeld began his playing career in Switzerland. There he won two championships and the Golden Boot award. In 1975, he joined Stuttgart. With 22 goals in one season, he shot Stuttgart into the top league. But there his purple patch ran out. By 1978 he had returned to Switzerland.

Football is an emotional sport, but you always seem cool on the bench. Is that what you're like as a person?

I used to be a lot more lively, pacing up and down the sidelines. In Switzerland I was almost like a tiger. I thought I could spur the team on with my energy. But over time you realise the players are completely focussed on their game, which is logical. When you have the right tactics, things take care of themselves on match day. You don't have to scream from the sideline. When I was younger it was different. I was trying to make people notice me. We were the first to use pressing, forechecking, and other offside tricks. We played a cheeky, high-risk game. I'd have a heart attack if we played that style of football now. Back then I wanted the attention and to try something new, something a bit crazy.

Ottmar and crazy? Hard to believe. But his success in Switzerland made Hitzfeld a hot prospect for the Bundesliga. In 1991 he went to Borussia Dortmund. After two German championships and a Champions League win in 1997 he moved a year later to Bayern Munich where in 6 years he collected 4 German championship titles. But the pressure took its toll.

You look younger than when you left Bayern three years ago.

In 2003, when we won the German championship and cup double, I just couldn't enjoy it. I was burnt-out and needed a break. Having time off from 2004 until early this year was the best decision I could have made. Even refusing to take the job of German national coach in 2004 was right. I just wasn't fit enough, I didn't have the strength. Now going to work is fun again and the stress just bounces off me. Now I just have positive stress, positive pressure and then it's a lot of fun when you win and the team scores a goal. When that's happening, it can't be going too bad.

Many say it's the best Bayern team ever. It's definitely the most expensive. At the moment Bayern is top of the table and is leaving the opposition in its wake.

If you were a normal football fan, would you watch from the terraces or the VIP lounge?

That depends on what I can afford. I believe that fans that stand in the terraces would prefer to watch from somewhere comfortable where there is good food and a nice atmosphere. It just depends on the person's standard of living. But I was a fan myself in younger days at Stetten and Lörrach. I stood in the stands and cheered on my team. In other words, you do what you can afford.

Now you can afford both. Would you buy a new pullover or a team shirt?

These days I wouldn't put on a team jersey to watch a game. But I think it's great that some fans do. Fußball is like religion. It's a big part of many people's lives. They identify with their players, their team or their nation, and that's something special.

Is football too serious?

I don't believe football is taken too seriously. Football allows people to let off steam on a Saturday. It doesn't matter whether it's a tradesman who works all week then heads along to the game and gets emotional about the result. Or whether it's a bank director who sits in the VIP area in a suit and still yells his head off. I just think it's a good sport for the people. Especially since the World Cup, football has shown it's an important part of society.

Do you have the Bayern gene or is it just a job?

I always had the Bayern gene. Its the only way you can be successful here.