Hitzfeld bouncing back with Bayern

Two and a half years after leaving the club exhausted, a relaxed, confident Ottmar Hitzfeld has returned to FC Bayern München and is now aiming to win the UEFA Champions League for a remarkable third time as his side meet Real Madrid CF this week.

Surprise choice
Hitzfeld was a surprise choice to replace Felix Magath but Bayern knew what they were getting - the 58-year-old is one of the most successful coaches in the history of European football. Nonetheless, the appointment was seen as something of a gamble considering that the coach had been dismissed by Bayern in June 2004 and had not managed a team for over 30 months.

Rest cure
With a crop of new, young and hungry coaches emerging during his absence - the likes of Frank Rijkaard, José Mourinho and Rafael Benítez - football has moved on since Hitzfeld left Bayern to rest, play golf and "eat a lot of good, Swiss food". Hitzfeld insisted that he was not out of touch however, telling Die Zeit: "I watched a lot of football during my time away, commentating for television, and therefore know what's going on."

'Energy source'
Hitzfeld added: "The last two years at Bayern I was worn out and I felt the pressure as soon as I walked into Säbener Straße in the mornings. I couldn't even enjoy the success in the way I had been able to before. Now, I'm really looking forward to this. I can feel Bayern are like an energy source for me. Bayern revitalise me."

Ongoing problems
Whether he will still be feeling so fresh after losing two of the three Bundesliga games since his return is a moot point. His first game in charge was a sobering 3-0 defeat at the hands of 1. FC Nürnberg, a result which made him realise that "the job here is bigger than I first thought". The weekend's 1-0 setback at TSV Alemannia Aachen will only have underlined that point.

Kahn upbeat
Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, for one, is convinced Hitzfeld will turn matters round. "We have to be organised and disciplined to win games and improve our confidence ahead of the Madrid game - and that is what Ottmar Hitzfeld is all about," he said. "But you also notice he has moved on. He has not stood still for the last three or four years, he has developed. That is the hallmark of a top quality manager and person."

Weight loss
Hitzfeld once revealed he used to lose five kilos a season with Bayern because of stress - starting out at 75kg in August, weighing in at 72kg during the winter break and ending in June with the scales showing a meagre 70kg. He may lose a few kilos again in the coming months, but Hitzfeld's weight loss may end up being Bayern's gain.

This is an abridged version of an article that first appeared in the uefa.com Magazine. To read the story in full, please click here.