Only five years have passed since Udo Lattek delivered a fitting summary of his colourful career: “I can basically say I’ve done more things right than wrong.” There was no disputing the statement when he made it, and now at the time of writing, not long after Lattek’s death on 1 February 2015, it remains as true as it ever was. Udo Lattek was one of the outstanding characters in German football as a whole and especially for FC Bayern.
”We are deeply moved and affected by the news of Udo Lattek’s death. His name is so closely associated with the rise of FC Bayern in the successful 1970s,” commented Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The FC Bayern Munich AG chairman was brought to the club as an 18-year-old by Lattek, as were Uli Hoeneß and Paul Breitner. A Book of Condolence has been opened at the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt.
Lattek, born in Sensburg, East Prussia on 16 January 1935, never excelled as a player but became a coaching legend and once stated: “I have football to thank for everything.” Franz Beckenbauer travelled to Cologne in 1970 specifically to recruit the then German FA (DFB) assistant coach to Munich. In two spells as head coach, from 1970 to 1975 and from 1983 to 1987, he led FCB to six Bundesliga titles, three DFB Cup triumphs and the European Cup, and also brought together a golden generation of players that still rates as one of the greatest in the club’s history.
Lattek won 15 trophies during his coaching career and the eight domestic championships – six with FC Bayern and two with Borussia Mönchengladbach – make him the most successful German coach of all time. It is a matter of honour to the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt that this great personality also receives significant attention in the club museum. This is a selection of the exhibits relating to Udo Lattek:
Jacket from Lattek’s farewell match:
The display covering the period 1980-1989 includes the training jacket worn by Udo Lattek in his last home match as FC Bayern coach, the 34th game of the season against Schalke on 17 June 1987. FC Bayern won the game 1-0 and were ceremonially presented with the championship trophy for the 10th time after the final whistle. The coach gifted his clothing to the south terrace loyalists before trotting off in just a t-shirt and boxer shorts to the dressing room, where he donned traditional Bavarian costume. The fan who caught the jacket donated it to the Erlebniswelt.
Exhibition marking “50 years of European club competition”:
To mark the 50th anniversary (1955-2005) of the Champions League and its predecessor, the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, UEFA spent the whole of the 2005 season honouring players and coaches with especially distinguished records in the competitions. Prior to the Champions League group meeting on 22 November 2005, a 4-0 victory over Rapid Vienna at the Allianz Arena, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder presented this award to Udo Lattek, and also Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Dettmar Cramer.
Sport Bild Award 2011:
The Sport Bild Award 2011 honouring Udo Lattek’s lifetime achievement was presented to him on 8 August 2011 in the Fischauktionshalle in Hamburg. Lattek marked the emotional moment with a trademark quip: “ Thank you. Without me football in Germany would be nothing. What’s I’ve achieved is just sensational.”
