No matter how many years pass, o Otto Rehagel will be in the heart of every Greek. The German coach wrote his name in golden letters in the history of our country, leading the Greek National Team to the conquest of Euro 2004.
In a long interview with ACTION 24, Mr Rehagel he remembers again the feat of the “blue and white”, he talks about his life today, while also standing on his acquaintance with Maria Callas.
An excerpt from Otto Rehagel’s ACTION 24 interview:
On the meeting he had with some of his former players: “I was just with some of the former players. Karagounis, Fyssa and Della. We drank coffee and remembered old memories. We were at Karagounis’ house, and we remembered the sports memories. We ate, I cannot describe what it was but it was meat».
On what Greece means to him: “Today I showed a photo, when I was in the Acropolis 40 years ago. If someone told me that in the future I would come here and celebrate a huge success it would be incredible».
How does it feel individually to have won the Euro: “Of course I had a CV before, with great successes in Germany. Rudy Feller former player, when I went to Greece he said what am I doing now. No one believed it and so a special situation arose. I believe in circumstances. I met important people who were in the prime of their lives and positioned them to succeed, to exploit their abilities as effectively as possible».
For the heroic reception that ended at the Panathenaic Stadium: “The reception at the Panathenaic Stadium was unusual. Amazing evening. It was full, we arrived in the evening and all the seats were occupied, we were happy. I was happy too. I had been chosen and I had fulfilled the hopes that were placed on me and I was filled with joy».
On the fact that Greece was the big underdog, but managed to get it: “We were the big underdog. Maybe they underestimated us. During the match he probably realized that Greece can play too. And then I said, before the others know, we have to qualify. There were the French, the Czechs and the Portuguese who were the big favourites. The opening game was widely viewed. Ronaldo’s Portugal against Greece.
And then we also realized that… I already knew that, because I had watched Greece once years ago and thought it’s not that bad. Otherwise I wouldn’t have done it. So I had some hope. Then I saw in the friendlies that these are amazing performances, amazing kids, a certain combination of special players with special abilities, both physically and mentally and tactically. It all matched. The others didn’t know that, but I did».
On whether players like Maradona and Pele exist today: “Messi and Ronaldo. In the past there were Zidane, Pele, Velere, Fritz Walter, Franz Beckenbauer. They will always exist. The good God sends people to earth. I was asked when we will have such a good team again. I replied that we will when we get a new Maria Callas, but there is no Maria Callas here. Now we don’t have the team we had, the players. The guys playing now have to claim their opportunities and take advantage of it».
On whether the National Team can now qualify for Euro 2024: “I will answer you with a quote from Goethe. I have hope, but I lack faith».
If he were still a manager today, he would imagine himself managing a Super League side: “When you’ve been a coach for a long time like me and now Klopp said it too, that there is no longer much motivation. When you do this for so long, for a lifetime like I did, then you want to enjoy your freedom. This is true».
About what he’s doing now: “I am active in the social sector, I am a director at the university clinic, also at the Sepp Herberger Foundation which belongs to the German Football Association. I award cups to disabled people’s leagues and to blind soccer players.
I was also in Afghanistan for ten days with the soldiers. The government asked me if I would like to visit them and I said why not. So I went to Masai El-Sharif. They were very happy. The young people did some things in the morning and in the evening we played a little football. We made sure they had a change of performances. They were all young people.
I was very sad when I saw all the plaques for the young fallen. He was 21, 22, 23 years old. They wanted to live, but they had to die. It’s tragic».
About the experiences he has lived and my philosophy: “I’m a little older than I look. And I grew up in the war, in 1943, 1944, 1945, when the Americans bombed the Ruhr, where I lived. Everything was destroyed. The people no longer had anything, no bread, nothing. We had illnesses. But I grew up amazingly there, depending on the possibilities we had. That’s what I learned. Respect and attention to the person. Peace in the world, take care of your fellow man, that’s what the Bible also says.
My philosophy is that life lasts 70 or 80 years. If it was good, it means that it took hard work. Why does one make war? Throw away the weapons and give to the Africans (who live in the Zaire zone) and they have nothing, not even water. Give the lore there and don’t give it for tanks. Normally the people who rule are not stupid. They should say.
One minute guys is it necessary? War, should they shoot each other? One day you will stand before God and he will ask what did you do in this small moment of eternity? You’ll say you were throwing bombs at each other’s houses. Well, you’re crazy. Everyone is smart enough to say, out the guns, give the people something to eat. We could all live well».
For his favorite team: “Yes, where I used to coach, there we still meet people my age. Her name is Helen Essen. They are a group of miners, all over 80 years old, and we share stories from the past».
If the Greek league could become like the top ones: “Yes, if circumstances arise. I believe in the circumstances, when we see some players growing, for example what I told you before, we are looking for the voice, a Maria Callas. We are looking for a new one, but that voice does not exist. A Pavarotti, a Placido Domingo. Then the Bayern players like Beckenbauer. There are other good ones, but no new ones come out. There is Messi and Maradona, but there is no next Messi and Maradona or Bolt the runner».
For the age when football started: “Ten. The heroes of my youth were in 1954. The German team won the world cup, defeated Puskas’s Hungary. At that time I was growing up, they were my heroes. They were most in Kaiserslautern. They became my friends. In this team I played and then I became a champion with this team. I was lucky. Through sports I got to know the world. In the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 I was a commentator. There I also met Placido Domingo completely by chance. I met a lady at the airport completely by accident, she was going to meet him. His parents are Mexican. Since then we met and became friends».
On meeting Maria Callas on a random flight: “In 1962, a year before the Bundesliga started. I had an offer from Hertha Berlin. I was flying from Essen to Berlin. Maria Kalas was flying with us. I went and asked for her autograph. She was more than friendly, with the little English I spoke. She was no diva. I was always watching what he was doing».
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
