Notepads from Ottmar Hitzfeld in the FC Bayern Museum show how he prepared for the 2001 Champions League final. He carried a small pad and made notes after every match, including after winning the German championship in the last second. The notes include the starting lineup, substitutes, and the expected opponent XI, plus specific observations such as which Valencia players had a strong left foot. They also cover set-piece planning, including wall composition and marking responsibilities for corners. During the match, he added key events like substitutions, goals, and penalty takers, and recorded referee information. He also wrote targeted messages for defense, attack, and morale.
"I remember that Ottmar always had a little pad on him. He got it out on the bus or the plane after every match and made notes in preparation for the meeting the next day. Even when we'd been crowned German champions in the last second, like in Hamburg in 2001. That was Ottmar: completely pragmatic and disciplined. I, on the other hand, needed an evening after exciting or unfortunate matches before I had the required focus again."
"Those are Ottmar's notes for the team talk before the final in Milan. At the top you see our starting line-up, the subs bench and the opponents' expected XI. Ottmar even made a note of which players from Valencia had a strong left foot. Underneath that it's about the opponents at set pieces. Who's in the wall? Who marks who at corners? Effe (Stefan Effenberg) was a kind of free man there. During the match, Ottmar then added the events of the match: the substitutions, the goals, the penalty takers. And in the top right corner is the referee: Dick Jol from Holland."
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