"The Bavarians Are Just as Mortal as the Rest of Us!" Otto Rehhagel's Rocky Departure from Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen's regretful dismissal of Otto Rehhagel
By Ben Redelings 👨🏫🤝 💬📝📲✉️💾
After a glorious 14-year run with Werder Bremen, Otto Rehhagel left for Munich and Bayern in the summer of 1995, but things didn't go smoothly for the legendary coach. Before he even stepped foot in his new role, a series of setbacks shaped his unforgettable farewell from Bremen.
The ill-fated match on the last day of the 1994/95 season saw Bayern outplay Werder Bremen, winning 3:1 at home and crowning Borussia Dortmund the new German champions. While a point could have secured the title for Bremen, the defeat left Rehhagel's loyal players and fans feeling devastated.
A Farewell Gone Awry: Even Mehmet Scholl, a Bayern national player, expressed sympathy for his future coach, fearing that Rehhagel might feel embarrassed. The once-beautiful farewell transformed into an awkward spectacle, leaving everyone but the victorious Bayern heartsore.
Mario Basler planned to honor Rehhagel with a lap around the stadium after the final whistle. The idea was to seat him on the Bayern bench, symbolizing a smooth transition for the cherished coach. Alas, these plans were thwarted, and the mood around Rehhagel's departure was far from auspicious.
Rehhagel's Rule in Bremen: For years in Bremen, Rehhagel had reigned supreme, with unquestioned power and unwavering loyalty from players and staff. The quiet town was perfect for such a controlling style; Rehhagel knew that no one would dare to question his authority, and no whispers of dissent would reach his ears.
In Munich, however, things were very different. The chaotic city life and the shadow of Bayern's storied history would test Otto Rehhagel's iron will like never before.
The'Master Painter's' Unconventional Proposal: To add insult to injury, Rehhagel presented a bizarre proposal in the summer: suggesting that his wife Beate should be appointed as the Bavarian Minister of Culture. Disbelief and humor ensued within the ministry, generating press speculation about the implications of such a move. It became clear that things between Rehhagel and Munich were not going to be easy.
The sporting start to the season also provided little solace for the new coach. The press sensed Rehhagel's vulnerability and sharpened their knives, relishing the opportunity to mock him. He soon became known as "Rubens" after a mix-up with a house number, and his authority began to crumble.
Harald Schmidt's Mockery: As Rehhagel struggled to find his footing, comedian Harald Schmidt joined the fray. He joked about the former painter and vanisher, promising to paint the wall for Rehhagel when the former Werder coach failed to deliver the performances on the pitch.
Eventually, a 0:1 defeat against Hansa Rostock on the 30th matchday pushed Bayern over the edge. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's high-ranking official, announced Rehhagel's departure, saying, "The time had come for us to react." The Munich adventure ended in just a few short months, and many believed that Rehhagel's own words from his departure from Bremen had come back to haunt him: "Since signing my contract 14 years ago, the path for Werder has been steeply upwards. What I've achieved in Bremen will only be truly appreciated when I'm gone. And I'll see how good I had it at Werder."
Two years later, fate would have the last laugh. Otto Rehhagel returned to the top, leading 1. FC Kaiserslautern to the German championship and relegating Bayern Munich to second place in the table. The humble, multiple-champion coach found his ultimate satisfaction not through grand speeches, but in triumphing over the very team that had once seemed to break him.
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, but despite this, one can draw a parallel between the tumultuous departure of Otto Rehhagel from Bayern Munich and the potential consequences of such a decision within the European leagues, specifically the Premier League. Football, much like the game of politics, has its share of champions and gamemasters, and Rehhagel, at one point, was considered an unstoppable force in the German football scene.
