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{{Short description|German football player and manager (born 1938)}}
{{Weasel|date=June 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Otto Rehhagel
| image               = Otto Rehhagel 01-2.jpg
| caption             = Rehhagel in 2010
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1938|8|9|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Essen]], [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| height              = 1.77 m
| position            = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub         = 
| youthyears1         = 1948–1957
| youthclubs1         = [[TuS Helene Altenessen]]
| years1              = 1957–1960
| clubs1              = [[TuS Helene Altenessen]]
| caps1               = 
| goals1              = 
| years2              = 1960–1963
| clubs2              = [[Rot-Weiss Essen]]
| caps2               = 90
| goals2              = 3
| years3              = 1963–1965
| clubs3              = [[Hertha BSC]]
| caps3               = 53
| goals3              = 6
| years4              = 1965–1972
| clubs4              = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| caps4               = 148
| goals4              = 17
| nationalyears1      = 1960
| nationalteam1       = [[Germany national amateur football team|West Germany Amateur]]
| nationalcaps1       = 2
| nationalgoals1      = 0
| manageryears1       = 1972
| managerclubs1       = FV Rockenhausen
| manageryears2       = 1972–1973
| managerclubs2       = [[1. FC Saarbrücken]]
| manageryears3       = 1974–1975
| managerclubs3       = [[Kickers Offenbach]]
| manageryears4       = 1976
| managerclubs4       = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| manageryears5       = 1976–1978
| managerclubs5       = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| manageryears6       = 1978–1979
| managerclubs6       = [[Arminia Bielefeld]]
| manageryears7       = 1979–1980
| managerclubs7       = [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]]
| manageryears8       = 1981–1995
| managerclubs8       = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| manageryears9      = 1995–1996
| managerclubs9      = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| manageryears10      = 1996–2000
| managerclubs10      = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| manageryears11      = 2001–2010
| managerclubs11      = [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| manageryears12      = 2012
| managerclubs12      = [[Hertha BSC]]
| medaltemplates      = 
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|GRE}}}} <small>(as manager)</small>
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 UEFA European Championship|2004 Portugal]]|}}
}}

'''Otto Rehhagel''' ({{IPA|de|ˈʁeːhaːɡl̩|lang}}; born 9 August 1938) is a German former [[Association football|football]] coach and player. 

Rehhagel is one of only two people who, as player and manager combined, has participated in over 1,000 [[Bundesliga]] matches (the other being [[Jupp Heynckes]]). In the Bundesliga, he holds the records for the most victories (387), most draws (205), most losses (228), and his teams have scored the most goals (1,473) and conceded more (1,142) than any other. He served as the head coach of [[Werder Bremen]] between 1981 and 1995 and won twice the [[Bundesliga]] and in 1992 the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] with them. After a rather unsuccessful intermezzo at [[Bayern Munich]], he won the Bundesliga sensationally with the promoted team [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]].

Internationally, Rehhagel coached [[Greece national football team|Greece]] from 2001 to 2010 in their most successful footballing era – during that period, Greece won the [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 European Championship]] unexpectedly and qualified for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]], their second World Cup finals appearance. A 2022 critically acclaimed film entitled, ''[[King Otto (film)|King Otto]]'', was made on Otto Rehhagel's triumph with the Greece national team for the 2004 European Championships.

==Playing career==
Born in [[Altenessen]], Rehhagel began his playing career with local club [[TuS Helene Altenessen]] in 1948. He moved to [[Rot-Weiss Essen]] (1960–63), after the start of the [[Bundesliga]] for [[Hertha BSC]] (1963–65), and until 1972 for [[1. FC Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]]. He played 201 games in the Bundesliga. As a player, Rehhagel was known as a tough-as-nails defender.

==Managerial career==

===Early years===
In 1974, he took charge of [[Kickers Offenbach]], but failed to make an immediate impact as a manager. Most famously, while in charge of [[Borussia Dortmund]] in 1978, he suffered a historic, record-setting [[Borussia Mönchengladbach 12–0 Borussia Dortmund|12–0 loss]] to [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], after which the tabloids called him ''Otto Torhagel'' ("Tor" means goal in German, and "Hagel" means a hailstorm). In 1980, Rehhagel won his first trophy as a manager, when his [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] side won the [[DFB-Pokal]].

===Werder Bremen===
Rehhagel managed [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] from 1981 to 1995. During these 14 golden years for the club, Rehhagel transformed Werder from a small minnow into a powerhouse, dazzling spectators with powerful up-tempo play and a smothering defence. During this spell, Werder Bremen established themselves as one of the main teams in the Bundesliga, overtaking hated rivals [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]] as the top club in the north and sparking an intense feud with [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]. In the mid-eighties, Rehhagel often fell just short of success and had a string of second places and Cup Final losses. In that time, his nickname was ''Otto II'' or ''Vizeadmiral'' ("Vice Admiral"). However, Rehhagel led [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] to two German championships in 1988 and 1993, two [[DFB-Pokal]] victories in 1991 and 1994, as well as winning the [[European Cup Winners' Cup]] in 1992. In this period, Rehhagel produced a host of international stars, such as [[Rudi Völler]], [[Karl-Heinz Riedle]], [[Dieter Eilts]], [[Marco Bode]], [[Mario Basler]], [[Hany Ramzy]], [[Andreas Herzog]] and [[Rune Bratseth]]. Rehhagel's [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] team of 1987–88 was at that time the squad which conceded the fewest goals ever in the Bundesliga (22), this record was surpassed by [[Bayern Munich]] in the 2007–08 season with 21 goals. His stint with Werder Bremen (14 years Bundesliga) is the second longest consecutive occupation as a manager ever in the Bundesliga. It was eventually surpassed by [[Volker Finke]] of [[SC Freiburg|Freiburg]] (16 years).

===Bayern Munich===
After 14 golden years at [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]], Rehhagel left to manage former hated rivals, [[Bayern Munich]], before the start of the 1995–96 season. Prior to Rehhagel's arrival, Bayern had a disappointing, but financially lucrative season in 1994–95 (a very poor sixth place in the Bundesliga, but semi-finals in the Champions League). In the summer of 1995, Bayern spent a lot of money, buying [[Jürgen Klinsmann]], [[Andreas Herzog]], and others, and Rehhagel was brought in as manager to replace [[Giovanni Trapattoni]]. It was widely expected that Munich would steamroll the opposition in 1995–96, but from day 1, Rehhagel clashed with the team and the team environment. His single-minded and occasionally eccentric ways did not mesh at all with Bayern, who quickly felt that Rehhagel was too rural at heart and had no clue about how to interact in the fancy environment of Munich. Moreover, Rehhagel's old-school tactics and patronising of the Bayern players caused major antipathy in the Bayern team, especially from Klinsmann, who never missed an opportunity to take shots at Rehhagel. Despite Rehhagel getting Bayern to the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] final, Bayern's results in the Bundesliga dropped alarmingly in the second half of the season, and Rehhagel was famously sacked just 4 days before they were due to play in the first leg of the 1996 [[UEFA Cup]] final. Rehhagel's job was taken over by [[Franz Beckenbauer]], who led the team to victory in the 1996 UEFA Cup final, but saw no upturn in form in the last couple of weeks in the Bundesliga, leading Bayern to finished second, as [[Borussia Dortmund]] won their second German championship in a row.

===1. FC Kaiserslautern===
After being sacked by [[Bayern Munich]], Rehhagel took over as manager of [[1. FC Kaiserslautern|Kaiserslautern]] in 1996, after a season where the club had won the [[DFB-Pokal]] but had also been relegated from the top-flight following a catastrophic season in the Bundesliga. Rehhagel's team won the [[1996–97 2. Bundesliga]] by ten points, ending the season with a 7-6 win over [[SV Meppen]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brehme |first=Andreas |title=Sure-Footed: The Story of a World Champion |publisher=Aix la Chapelle Books |year=2023 |isbn=978-3-949929-20-5 |pages=123–124 |language=EN}}</ref>

In Rehhagel's second season, Kaiserslautern won the [[1997–98 Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] title, the first and so far only German championship triumph by a team that had just been promoted the previous season. Going into the season, expectations were low and the team's goal was only to avoid relegation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brand |first=Gerard |date=28 April 2016 |title=The German Leicester... how Kaiserslautern shocked the Bundesliga in 1998 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/10260273/the-german-leicester |access-date=15 September 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref> They started with a 1-0 win over reigning champions and Rehhagel's former club, Bayern, and moved into first place after four matchdays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=How promoted Kaiserslautern won the Bundesliga |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0221-0e90cc78a03b-b5748f1a08c6-1000--how-promoted-kaiserslautern-won-the-bundesliga/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> Kaiserslautern were still first when the two teams played again, and won again, giving them a seven point lead at the top of the table. Kaiserslautern secured the title with a win over [[VfL Wolfsburg]] in the penultimate game of the season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The most unlikely Bundesliga winners of all – DW – 03/28/2020 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/kaiserslautern-defy-bayern-munich-and-the-odds-to-win-1997-98-bundesliga/a-52932203 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> Kaiserslautern's championship is regarded as one of the greatest achievements in German football history and was described as "something that will never happen again" by both Rehhagel and [[Rudi Völler]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=Against all odds: Europe's shock title wins |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d0454f0d532-bd8b3c915633-1000--against-all-odds-europe-s-shock-title-wins/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Otto Rehagel – DW – 06/09/2010 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/miracle-man-rehhagel-looks-to-upset-the-odds-again/a-5603479 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

As well as [[Jupp Heynckes]], Rehhagel was offered the job of managing the [[Germany national football team|Germany national team]] in summer 1998, but rejected it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-08 |title=EURO 2000 - The Official Site |url=http://www.euro2000.org/en/news/story/0,1068,52900,00.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010208234827/http://www.euro2000.org/en/news/story/0,1068,52900,00.html |archive-date=8 February 2001 }}</ref> In the season after the title, Rehhagel coached Kaiserslautern to the quarter-finals of the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League]] and a fifth-placed finish in the Bundesliga, having club captain [[Andreas Brehme]] and libero [[Miroslav Kadlec]].<ref name=":0" /> Rehhagel resigned from Kaiserslautern in October 2000 after a bad start to the new season and pressure from supporters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trainer Otto Rehhagel tritt in Kaiserslautern zurück - WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article536301/Trainer-Otto-Rehhagel-tritt-in-Kaiserslautern-zurueck.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}</ref> His final year at the club had been marred by a public dispute with star player [[Ciriaco Sforza]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-09-06 |title=Sforza vs. Rehhagel: "Die Wahrheit ist vielfach brutal" |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/sforza-vs-rehhagel-die-wahrheit-ist-vielfach-brutal-a-40291.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-09-09 |title=Otto Rehhagel: Wir sind nicht der 1. FC Sforza |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/otto-rehhagel-wir-sind-nicht-der-1-fc-sforza-a-40706.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

Rehhagel finished with a record of 87 wins, 39 draws, and 48 losses.<ref name="1. FC Kaiserslautern - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=1. FC Kaiserslautern|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/2-bundesliga/2016-17/1-fc-kaiserslautern-37/trainer.html|website=kicker.de|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 December 2016|language=de|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101044215/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/2-bundesliga/2016-17/1-fc-kaiserslautern-37/trainer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Greece national team===
In August 2001, following [[Vassilis Daniil]]'s departure, Rehhagel was appointed as the new manager of [[Greece national football team|Greece]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Greeks go with Rehhagel |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1482629.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 August 2001 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306144552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1482629.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> ahead of other candidates, such as [[Marco Tardelli]], [[Nevio Scala]], [[Vanderlei Luxemburgo]], and [[Terry Venables]], who had also been considered for the managerial post.<ref name="Rehhagel plots England downfall">{{cite news |title=Rehhagel plots England downfall |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1542924.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 September 2001 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712015239/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1542924.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Rehhagel's first match in charge was in October 2001, a [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|2002 World Cup qualifier]] against [[Finland national football team|Finland]], which ended in a 5–1 away defeat.<ref name="Rehhagel plots England downfall" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Troubled Greek journey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1542816.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 September 2001 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212194115/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1542816.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, he rebuilt the squad, and in October 2003, after a 1–0 win over [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Greeks through to finals |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/northern_ireland/3168046.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2003 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306133946/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/northern_ireland/3168046.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Greece qualified automatically for [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]], ahead of [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] and [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]. Ranked 150–1 outsiders,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Andy |last1=Bull |first2=Paul |last2=Doyle |first3=Nicky |last3=Bandini |title=The Joy of Six: memorable sporting moments of the decade |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 December 2009 }}</ref> they nevertheless defeated host nation [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Scolari bears brunt as hosts turn their anger inwards |first=Michael |last=Walker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/14/euro2004.sport25 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 June 2004 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712015233/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/14/euro2004.sport25 |url-status=live }}</ref> holders [[France national football team|France]] and the much more fancied [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] on the way to the [[UEFA Euro 2004 Final|final]], where they again defeated Portugal 1–0. Rehhagel, who was seen as the man most responsible for the team's success, became the first foreign manager ever to win a [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championship]] and remains the only one to date. Despite not having a star-studded line-up, the Greek team won the championship, conceding no goals in the knockout stage.

[[File:Rehakles 2008.jpg|thumb|Rehhagel giving instructions to players of the Greece national football team before the changes]]
Rehhagel adopted a defensive approach in playing his Greek side, using energetic midfielders to wear down the opponents and the policy of defending in numbers to numb the opposition's attacks. When charged with boring play, he said, "No one should forget that a coach adapts the tactics to the characteristics of the available players." His time at Werder Bremen, in contrast, saw play described as flashy and spectacular attacking football.<ref name=Baumann>{{cite web | url = https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/griechen-coach-rehhagel-ende-der-ottokratie-a-702321.html | title = Ende der Ottokratie | first = Hendrik | last = Baumann | website = [[Der Spiegel]] | date = 23 June 2010 | language = de | access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref>

After [[Rudi Völler]] resigned as [[Germany national football team|Germany]] coach in the wake of that country's first-round exit in Euro 2004, Rehhagel was considered by many to be a strong candidate for his homeland's job. He had the support of the public, despite being considered a maverick by the footballing establishment. After three other candidates removed themselves from consideration, Rehhagel received an offer to take over as Germany coach, which he officially turned down on 10 July.

In their [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|qualifying group]] for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the Greek side failed to make the grade, finishing fourth in a tough group which saw Ukraine advance as group winner and Turkey go on to the play-off. The team returned to success though by qualifying for [[Euro 2008]], ending the qualifying stage with the highest points total of any team and ensuring they would be able to defend their title. On 30 March 2008, Rehhagel extended his contract with Greece until 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=677047.html | title = Rehhagel agrees new Greece contract | publisher = uefa.com | access-date = 30 March 2008 | date = 29 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080401011333/http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=677047.html | archive-date = 1 April 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The Euro 2008 ended in disappointment after three group stage losses against Sweden, Russia, and eventual winners Spain.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|qualifying group]] and having finished second in Group 2 behind Switzerland, coach Rehhagel and the national team faced Ukraine in a two-legged play-off and won 1–0 in Donetsk after a 0–0 draw in Piraeus, with [[Dimitris Salpingidis]] scoring the winner. The win against Ukraine allowed the Greek squad to compete in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] held in South Africa and solidified the position of Otto Rehhagel as one of the most important people in the history of Greek sport. At the age of 71, he also became the oldest national team manager to coach in a FIFA World Cup, surpassing [[Cesare Maldini]]'s record from 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/03-04-2016/maldini-coppa-campioni-ct-figlio-carriera-straordinaria-15094645723.shtml|title=Maldini, dalla Coppa Campioni a c.t. del figlio: una carriera straordinaria|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Nicola Cecere|date=3 April 2016|access-date=3 April 2016|archive-date=17 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417031141/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/03-04-2016/maldini-coppa-campioni-ct-figlio-carriera-straordinaria-15094645723.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
Greece lost to South Korea, Argentina, defeated Nigeria 2–1 and exited the FIFA World Cup in the group stage, despite Salpingidis scoring Greece's first ever goal in a World Cup against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]. Rehhagel announced his intention to leave his coaching position after the World Cup. On 23 June 2010, he announced his resignation from Greece.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post_4814.html | title = Rehhagel officially announced his resignation | publisher = troktiko | access-date = 23 June 2010 | date = 23 June 2010 | archive-date = 28 June 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100628034924/http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post_4814.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755226.stm|title=Otto Rehhagel quits as Greece coach|date=24 June 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 June 2010|archive-date=1 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701175752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8755226.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2021 documentary ''King Otto'' by New York-based director Christopher André Marks chronicles Rehhagel's success in Greece. The film's opening line quotes [[English translations of Homer#Odyssey|the first line]] of [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]'', "Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://greekherald.com.au/community/1-people-community/interviews/not-many-football-documentaries-start-with-a-quote-from-homer-christopher-marks-on-king-otto/ | title = "Not many football documentaries start with a quote from Homer": Christopher Marks on 'King Otto' | first = John | last = Voutos | website = [[The Greek Herald]] | date = 26 May 2021 | access-date = 1 June 2021 | archive-date = 12 July 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240712015235/https://greekherald.com.au/community/1-people-community/interviews/not-many-football-documentaries-start-with-a-quote-from-homer-christopher-marks-on-king-otto/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Hertha BSC===
[[File:Rehhagel Hertha.jpg|thumb|right|Rehhagel during his stint as Hertha Berlin manager]]
Rehhagel signed for ailing Bundesliga club [[Hertha BSC]]<ref name="Preetz bestätigt: Rehhagel übernimmt Hertha">{{cite web | url = http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/564838/artikel_preetz-bestaetigt_rehhagel-uebernimmt-hertha.html | title = Preetz bestätigt: Rehhagel übernimmt Hertha | language = de | publisher = kicker.de | access-date = 18 February 2012 | date = 18 February 2012 | archive-date = 19 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120219151232/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/564838/artikel_preetz-bestaetigt_rehhagel-uebernimmt-hertha.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and was manager of the club between 18 February 2012 and 30 June 2012.<ref name="Luhukay replaces Rehhagel">{{cite news|last=Bremer|first=Uwe|title=Hertha setzt jetzt auf den "kleinen Diktator" Luhukay|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/hertha-bsc/article106331020/Hertha-setzt-jetzt-auf-den-kleinen-Diktator-Luhukay.html|access-date=17 May 2012|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=17 May 2012|language=de|archive-date=19 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519002822/http://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/hertha-bsc/article106331020/Hertha-setzt-jetzt-auf-den-kleinen-Diktator-Luhukay.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His attempt to save Hertha from relegation however ended in a failure, after the Berliners were defeated by [[2. Bundesliga]] club [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]] in a two-legged playoff. Rehhagel finished with a record of three wins, three draws, and eight losses.<ref name="Hertha BSC - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Hertha BSC|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/hertha-bsc-29/trainer.html|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de|archive-date=5 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105223834/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/hertha-bsc-29/trainer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Style of management==
Rehhagel popularized the phrase ''kontrollierte Offensive'' (controlled offence). He prefers a grass-roots approach to football, stressing the importance of at least two (often also three) big, strong headers in central defence. His defensive schemes often use a dominant [[Libero (football)|libero]], such as [[Rune Bratseth]], [[Miroslav Kadlec]], or [[Traianos Dellas]]. In defence, Rehhagel usually prefers robustness and height over footballing abilities (the most notorious example being [[Ulrich Borowka]]). In the period of all-round, fluid defence, many have criticized this as dated and anachronistic, with Rehhagel rebutting the claims due to his success.

Rehhagel's teams regularly develop pressure on the wings complemented with at least one dominant header as the central striker. Examples include [[Mario Basler]]/[[Marco Bode]] playing on the wings at Bremen or [[Andreas Buck]]/[[Marco Reich]] at Kaiserslautern while ([[Rudi Völler]], [[Karl-Heinz Riedle]], [[Frank Neubarth]], [[Olaf Marschall]], and [[Angelos Charisteas]]) at the top of the formation.

The backbone of his teams are usually older, more experienced players while younger talents rarely find themselves taking responsibility. At Kaiserslautern, Rehhagel often kept the young [[Michael Ballack]] on the bench as a substitute. Despite this, he is also known for being an excellent talent scout, having discovered Völler, Riedle, [[Marco Bode]], [[Dieter Eilts]], Marco Reich, [[Miroslav Klose]], [[Angelos Charisteas]], [[Sotirios Kyrgiakos|Sotiris Kyrgiakos]], [[Theofanis Gekas]] and many others.

With Greece he used man-marking, which was an unusual tactical throwback at the time, meaning their opponents were unprepared to combat it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Askew|first=Joshua|date=11 June 2021|title=How did Otto Rehhagel's Greece win Euro 2004?|url=https://www.holdingmidfield.com/how-did-otto-rehhagel-greece-win-euro-2004-tactics-tactical-analysis/|access-date=14 July 2021|website=Holding Midfield|language=en-GB|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715013924/https://www.holdingmidfield.com/how-did-otto-rehhagel-greece-win-euro-2004-tactics-tactical-analysis/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rehhagel is also known for being a good motivator. His teams possess a lot of team spirit, most famously the Greece national team, which he turned from a dead-end squad nobody wanted to play for into a must-be-there-at-all-costs team. He is also famous for reigniting the careers of older players, such as [[Manfred Burgsmüller]], [[Mirko Votava]], [[Olaf Marschall]] or [[Theodoros Zagorakis]].

Rehhagel is also a deft and ruthless club politician. He is notorious for restructuring clubs by making friends with powerful people and using them to eliminate the opposition in order to wield absolute power, preferring the system of a [[benign dictatorship]]. His way of handling a club – in a competent and innovative, but also highly patronizing and condescending way – has been immortalized as ''ottocracy'', a pun on his name alluding to the style of management/government; [[autocracy]].

Finally, Rehhagel is considered somewhat of a maverick in Germany. In decades of interviews, he has established a reputation for being eccentric, similarly to [[José Mourinho]] and [[Brian Clough]]. However, seeing his impressive record, he is apparently able to back up his words.

Famous players associated with Rehhagel include [[Klaus Allofs]], [[Mario Basler]], [[Marco Bode]], [[Rune Bratseth]], [[Manfred Burgsmüller]], [[Theofanis Gekas]], [[Angelos Charisteas]], [[Traianos Dellas]], [[Dieter Eilts]], [[Andreas Herzog]], [[Marian Hristov]], [[Miroslav Klose]], [[Olaf Marschall]], [[Hany Ramzy]], [[Karl-Heinz Riedle]], [[Wynton Rufer]], [[Thomas Schaaf]], [[Ciriaco Sforza]], [[Rudi Völler]], [[Theodoros Zagorakis]], [[Andreas Brehme]] and [[Michael Ballack]].

==Personal life==
[[File:AV0A6459 Otto Rehhagel mit seiner Ehefrau Beate.jpg|thumb|Otto with wife Beate Rehhagel in 2017]]
Rehhagel is married to Beate Rehhagel from [[Steele, Essen]] since 1963. They have one child, Jens Rehhagel, who has played football at semi-professional level.<ref>[https://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/id_18571078/si_2/-.html "Berühmte Fußballer und ihre Söhne – Jens Rehhagel"]{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[t-online]] (in German)</ref>

Rehhagel likes to call himself ''Kind der Bundesliga'' ("Child of the Bundesliga"), having played in the very first Bundesliga game, and spent his club career there, with nine teams. In [[Greece]], he is occasionally called ''King Otto'' (βασιλιάς Όθων), probably in allusion to King [[Otto of Greece]] from Bavaria, however he already had this nickname during his coaching career in Germany. As a pun referring to [[Herakles]], son of [[Zeus]], he has been nicknamed "Rehakles" as well.<ref name=Baumann /><ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/greeks-wont-prevent-rehakles-returning-to-germany/a-1262444 "Greeks Won't Prevent 'Rehakles' Returning to Germany"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215148/https://www.dw.com/en/greeks-wont-prevent-rehakles-returning-to-germany/a-1262444 |date=2 June 2021 }}, [[Deutsche Welle]], 9 July 2004</ref> Rehhagel is an honorary citizen of Athens.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rehhagel |first1=Otto |last2=Marks |first2=Christopher |title=Hi! We're Coach "King Otto" Rehhagel and documentarian Christopher André Marks here answering your questions. Ask Us Anything! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/tl1rm6/hi_were_coach_king_otto_rehhagel_and/ |website=Reddit |date=23 March 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122232549/https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/tl1rm6/hi_were_coach_king_otto_rehhagel_and/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|15 May 2012}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="8"| Record
|-
!G
!W
!D
!L
!Win %
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
| [[1. FC Saarbrücken]]
| 1 July 1972
| 30 June 1973
{{WDL|30|7|10|13}}
|
|-
| [[Kickers Offenbach]]
| 2 April 1974
| 9 December 1975
{{WDL|60|23|10|27}}
|
|-
| [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| 29 February 1976<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 June 1976<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|13|4|5|4}}
|<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Werder Bremen|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/werder-bremen-4/trainer.html|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111122708/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/werder-bremen-4/trainer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| 1 July 1976<ref name="Borussia Dortmund - Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 April 1978<ref name="Borussia Dortmund - Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|74|29|16|29}}
|<ref name="Borussia Dortmund - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Borussia Dortmund|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/borussia-dortmund-17/trainer.html|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918012427/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/borussia-dortmund-17/trainer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Arminia Bielefeld]]
| 10 October 1978
| 11 October 1979
{{WDL|37|15|9|13}}
|
|-
| [[Fortuna Düsseldorf]]
| 12 October 1979
| 5 December 1980
{{WDL|53|26|9|18}}
|
|-
| [[Werder Bremen]]
| 2 April 1981<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie"/>
| 30 June 1995<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|609|322|156|131}}
|<ref name="Werder Bremen - Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
| [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| 1 July 1995<ref name="Bayern München - Trainerhistorie"/>
| 27 April 1996<ref name="Bayern München - Trainerhistorie"/>
{{WDL|42|27|5|10}}
|<ref name="Bayern München - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Bayern München|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/bayern-muenchen-14/trainer.html|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de|archive-date=22 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622121711/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/bayern-muenchen-14/trainer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| 20 July 1996
| 1 October 2000
{{WDL|174|87|38|49}}
|
|-
| [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| 9 August 2001
| 30 June 2010
{{WDL|106|52|22|32}}
|
|-
| [[Hertha BSC]]
| 19 February 2012
| 30 June 2012
{{WDL|14|3|3|8}}
|<ref name="Hertha BSC - Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|1225|606|278|341}}
|—
|}

==Honours==

===Managerial honours===

;Fortuna Düsseldorf
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1979–80 DFB-Pokal|1979–80]]

;Werder Bremen
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[1987–88 Bundesliga|1987–88]], [[1992–93 Bundesliga|1992–93]]
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1990–91 DFB-Pokal|1990–91]], [[1993–94 DFB-Pokal|1993–94]]
* [[DFL-Supercup]]: [[DFB-Supercup#Winners|1988]], [[DFB-Supercup#Winners|1993]], [[1994 DFB-Supercup|1994]]
* [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup|1991–92]]

;1. FC Kaiserslautern
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[1997–98 Bundesliga|1997–98]]
* [[2. Bundesliga]]: [[1996–97 2. Bundesliga|1996–97]]

;Greece
* [[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]

;Individual
* [[Order of the Phoenix (Greece)|Order of the Phoenix]] of the [[Greece|Hellenic Republic]]: (2005)
* [[Laureus World Sports Awards]] with the [[Greece national football team|Greece]]: (2005)
* [[Best Sports Coach in Greece|"Greece's Coach of the Year"]] (2004, 2007), first-ever foreigner to win this award
* [[IFFHS World's Best National Coach]]: 2004
* [[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest Managers of All Time|World Soccer 36th Greatest Manager of All Time]]: 2013<ref>{{cite web|title=The Greatest Manager of all time|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-manager-of-all-time-341473|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=4 July 2013|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224135927/https://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-manager-of-all-time-341473|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Greatest XI">{{cite web|title=The Greatest XI: how the panel voted|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=2 July 2013|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101233404/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[France Football]] 46th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019<ref name="Top6FF">{{cite web|url=https://www.francefootball.fr/magazine/?prov=W-HP-LBMU|title=Top 50 des coaches de l'historie|publisher=France Football|date=19 March 2019|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331192808/https://www.francefootball.fr/magazine/?prov=W-HP-LBMU|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 50 best coaches in history, according to 'France Football'|url=https://www.besoccer.com/new/the-50-best-coaches-in-history-according-to-france-football-607455|website=BeSoccer|date=29 March 2019|access-date=6 December 2019|language=en-EN|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603023727/https://www.besoccer.com/new/the-50-best-coaches-in-history-according-to-france-football-607455|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of football managers with the most games#National team managers with 100 or more games|National team managers with 100 or more games]]
* [[List of football managers with the most games#List|List of football managers with the most games]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Fussballdaten|rehhagelotto|Otto Rehhagel}}
* {{YouTube|E_8YgUx9wHE|"Tanz den Rehakles"}}, by [[DJ Ötzi]]
{{Navboxes colour
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{UEFA European Championship winning managers}}
{{UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winning managers}}
{{Bundesliga winning managers}}
{{DFB-Pokal winning managers}}
{{IFFHS World's Best National Coach}}
{{PSAT Best Sports Coach in Greece}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Greece squads
|bg=#0D5EAF
|fg=white
|bordercolor=#004C98
|list1=
{{Greece squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{Greece squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Greece squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
{{Greece squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Managerial positions
|list1=
{{1. FC Saarbrücken managers}}
{{Kickers Offenbach managers}}
{{Borussia Dortmund managers}}
{{Arminia Bielefeld managers}}
{{Fortuna Düsseldorf managers}}
{{Werder Bremen managers}}
{{Bayern Munich managers}}
{{Kaiserslautern managers}}
{{Greece national football team managers}}
{{Hertha BSC managers}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rehhagel, Otto}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Essen]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:TuS Helene Altenessen players]]
[[Category:Rot-Weiss Essen players]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:Kickers Offenbach managers]]
[[Category:1. FC Saarbrücken managers]]
[[Category:Arminia Bielefeld managers]]
[[Category:Fortuna Düsseldorf managers]]
[[Category:Borussia Dortmund managers]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen managers]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich managers]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern managers]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC managers]]
[[Category:Greece national football team managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 managers]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 managers]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship-winning managers]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:German expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Greece]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]
[[Category:West German football managers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Greece]]