"Otto Rehhagel, King of the Pitch to the King of Disaster!" A Tumultuous Journey from Werder Bremen to Bayern Munich
Werder Bremen's regretful parting with Otto Rehhagel
By Ben RedelingsFacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmailPrintLink copyOtto Rehhagel, a man hailed as the "King of Bremen," left his long-standing club for a new challenge at Bayern Munich. The transition, however, was far from smooth.
Before he even began his new journey at the titleholders, misfortune struck. Star player Mehmet Scholl expressed genuine concern for his future coach, Otto Rehhagel, after the last game of the 1994/95 season. The Bayern had defeated Werder Bremen 3-1, and Rehhagel's emotional farewell at his previous club was soured by the defeat.
"I hope he doesn't feel humiliated. I avoided running to the fan curve after the goals," Scholl remarked. Mario Basler, a key player for Werder, had planned to honor Rehhagel with a lap of honor and sit him on the Bayern bench, but that plan went awry. "Hopefully, he's not so angry that the start with us doesn't go optimally," Basler's teammate Thomas Helmer fretted.
Rehhagel's emotional farewell was marked by a plea to the fans to prevent any bitterness toward the Munich people. "The Bayern are also humans!" he stressed. Leaving the serene environs of Bremen for the tumultuous city of Munich was a more significant leap than he had imagined.
Strange Decisions and Mockery
Rehhagel's transition from the peaceful city of Bremen to the heart of Bavaria was controversial, and his unconventional decisions caused confusion. When he humorously proposed his wife Beate to be the Bavarian Minister of Culture, the ministry prepared a sarcastic response. In a counter-proposal, they suggested reconsidering the re-occupation of the Bayern Bank, with their preferred candidate being the theatrical personality August Everding for the coaching position.
Rehhagel's troubled start at Bayern continued when his doorbell was discovered to read "Rubens" instead of Rehhagel. Tabloids lambasted the new coach, calling him a "master painter who can't train!" Despite his credentials, Rehhagel struggled to earn the respect of the Bayern players and the press.
A Fall from Grace
After a difficult start to the 1995/96 season, the press pounced on Rehhagel. When it was revealed that his doorbell in the Schwabing "Casa Schellissima" read "Rubens" instead of Rehhagel, the tabloids sarcastically headlined: "From Master Painter to Master Painter." Naturally, the Bayern players also read newspapers, and from then on referred to their coach only as "Rubens." The scratches on Rehhagel's authority could not be repaired, not even by a master painter like Rubens himself.
By mid-February 1996, Bayern's dwindling faith in Rehhagel culminated in a TV comedian's mockery: "One day, Uli Hoeneß: 'Otto, Augenthaler will now lead the training. You can already start painting the wall.'" The irony was palpable, especially considering the poor start to the second half of the season.
A Door to Success Swings Open Again
After a devastating 0:1 defeat against Hansa Rostock on the 30th matchday, FC Bayern and table leaders Borussia Dortmund parted ways with Otto Rehhagal. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented at the time: "The time had come for us to react." For Rehhagel, the Munich adventure ended after just a few months.
However, Rehhagel bounced back with a vengeance. Two years later, he led 1. FC Kaiserslautern from the second to the first Bundesliga, starting the following season with a victory over Bayern Munich. Rehhagel and the Red Devils then went on to win the German championship, relegating FC Bayern Munich to second place.
In the end, Rehhagel's humble demeanor and perseverance paid off, and he proved that even in the face of failure, there is always a chance for redemption.
The Commission, in the midst of considering the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, has not yet adopted a decision on this matter. Amidst the tumultuous journey of Otto Rehhagel at Bayern Munich, his reign as the coach saw a peculiar predicament when his doorbell was inscribed as "Rubens" instead of his name, causing mockery in the media and among players.
