Which managers have managed both Bayern Munich and Dortmund?

The legendary rivalry is known as the "Der Klassiker"

The fierce rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich is widely regarded as one of the most intense and historic rivalries in German football. Dubbed "Der Klassiker" or "The Classic," it has become one of the most highly anticipated matches in the Bundesliga and across Europe.

The origins of this rivalry date back to the 1970s and 1980s when Bayern Munich dominated German football, winning numerous Bundesliga titles and European Cups. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund struggled during this period and even faced relegation from the Bundesliga in 1972.

However, in the 1990s, Dortmund emerged as a major force in German football under the guidance of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. The club won consecutive Bundesliga titles in 1995 and 1996 and claimed the prestigious UEFA Champions League in 1997, defeating Juventus in the final. This era saw the rivalry between the two clubs intensify as they began to compete for supremacy in the Bundesliga.

Since 2010, only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have won the Bundesliga title, with Dortmund taking the crown in 2011 and 2012 and Bayern winning every other year. The two clubs also met in the 2013 Champions League final, which Bayern Munich won 2-1.

The rivalry between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is fueled by the passionate support of their fans, as well as the rich history and traditions of German football. Matches between the two teams are always fiercely contested, with both sides playing to win at all costs.

Interestingly, although there are numerous players who have played for both clubs, only two managers have ever managed both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. In this article we will be looking at the top managers who have managed both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German football coach and former player who is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in the history of German football. After two successful seasons at Zurich, Hitzfeld was appointed as the head coach of Borussia Dortmund in 1991.

Hitzfeld's tenure at Borussia Dortmund was highly successful, as he led the club to two consecutive Bundesliga titles in 1995 and 1996, as well as the UEFA Champions League in 1997. Under Hitzfeld's guidance, Dortmund played an attractive brand of football, with a focus on fast, attacking play. His success at Dortmund made him one of the most sought-after managers in Europe, and in 1998 he was appointed as the head coach of Bayern Munich.

At Bayern Munich, Hitzfeld continued his winning ways, leading the club to four Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokal trophies, and the UEFA Champions League in 2001. Hitzfeld's success at Bayern cemented his status as one of the greatest managers in the history of German football, and he is widely regarded as one of the key figures in the club's history. Hitzfeld returned to Bayern Munich for a second spell in 2007, leading the club to another Bundesliga title in 2008.

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel is a German football coach who started his managerial career in 2000 with Stuttgart's youth teams.

 He became the head coach of Borussia Dortmund in 2015 after succeeding Jurgen Klopp. During his tenure, Tuchel emphasized tactical flexibility and possession-based football, leading Dortmund to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga, and the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2016 and DFB-Pokal title in 2017. However, disagreements with the club's hierarchy led to his departure in May 2017.

 Tuchel then joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he won 2 league titles and reached the Champions League final in 2020. He later moved to Chelsea and won his first Champions League title in 2021 but was sacked in 2022.

 In March 2023, he was announced as the new head coach of Bayern Munich, replacing Julian Nagelsmann. His first match as the Bayern Munich manager will be against his former club, Borussia Dortmund, on 1st April 2023.