Former Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld revealed how he came close to getting the Manchester United job in 2002. The club had lined up a host of managers to replace Sir Alex Ferguson after his retirement scares, and the 65-year-old was being lined up as perfect replacement, but pulled out of the deal due to problems with his English speaking. I decided to stay in Germany because, when I am coaching I prefer to express myself in German as this is my mother tongue. I did not think I would be able to do myself justice if I had to speak to the players in English, he said, reported in the Telegraph, when he was manager of the Swiss national team. I would not be able to get my emotions and feelings across. The players in the Swiss dressing room speak a variety of languages, including Italian, French and English, but when they come to work, I coach them in German. Hitzfeld is regarded as one of the best Bundesliga managers of all time, and the best in Bayern Munichs history, so theres no doubt he was a coach with enough calibre to take over at United. It certainly didnt do his career any harm that he didnt end up at Old Trafford, considering the experienced manager won the Bundesliga title again the following season.
Crippy Cooke, 23, is a freelance Football Writer contributing to What Culture. He's had work featured on Zoo, MSN, London 24, The Telegraph, The Huffington Post, and was recently named Writer of the Year on FTBpro - while also a nominee for Best Male Blog in the Football Blogging Awards.
