“That was all 40 years ago”
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Master trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld, 1980s European champion captain Bernard Dietz and world champion Pia Wunderlich have been inducted into the German Football Hall of Fame. This emerged from the annual vote by a jury of journalists. Induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes the extraordinary achievements and successes that the nominees have achieved as players or coaches. 56 men and women are now part of the Hall of Fame.
Dietz, whom his long-time club MSV Duisburg had also suggested as DFB honorary captain, was captain of the German team at the European Championship triumph in Italy in 1980. “At first I thought someone was kidding me – that was all 40 years ago and no one knows me anymore,” said the former defender, who played 53 international matches. Dietz is honorary president of the Zebras. He ended his career in 1987 after five years at FC Schalke 04.
Hitzfeld was honored primarily for his achievements as a coach. He celebrated two Champions League titles with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. He also won seven German championships and three cups. In the Bundesliga, only Pep Guardiola, Hansi Flick and Xabi Alonso have a better points average than Hitzfeld (1.98). However, with 460 games, the 76-year-old was on the sidelines for almost twice as many games as the trio combined (294, according to the statistics of the best Bundesliga coaches).
Wunderlich was a member of the national team that became world champions for the first time in 2003. The 102-time national player also won the European Championship title in 1997, 2001 and 2005. The award ceremony in the German Football Museum in Dortmund is expected to take place in spring 2027.