QUESTION:
Who was the man that inspired you to become a great footballer and later great coach?
ANSWER:
IT WAS NOT A MAN, IT WAS A CLUB. I WANTED TO BECOME PLAYER OF THE SWISS CLUB CALLED F.C. BASEL. SO I RANG UP COACH HELMUT BENTHAUS AND ASKED IF I COULD COME TO TRAINING WITH HIS TEAM. I WAS ALLOWED TO AND BECAME PLAYER. AFTER MY CAREER AS A PLAYER I HAD THE CHANCE TO START AS A COACH WITH 2ND DIVISION CLUB ZUG IN SWITZERLAND. I GAVE MYSELF FIVE YEARS TO REACH SUCCESS. IF I HAD HAD NONE, I WOULD HAVE TURNED BACK TO SCHOOL AS A TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS.

QUESTION:
When was your debut as a footballer and as a coach?
ANSWER:
AS A PROFESSIONAL PLAYER WITH BASEL IN 1971, AS A COACH WITH S.C. ZUG IN 1983.

QUESTION:
Did you ever come to Greece and if yes what did you like most?
ANSWER:
YES, I HAVE BEEN IN ATHENS ONCE, LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER FOR THE WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION GAME GREECE - SWITZERLAND. LUCKILY WE WON 2-1.

QUESTION:
Are you married?
ANSWER:
YES, I AM, MY WIFE IS CALLED BEATRIX.

QUESTION:
Do you have any children?
ANSWER:
WE HAVE GOT ONE SON, MATTHIAS.

QUESTION:
Is it possible for Switzerland to win a Mundial 2010?
ANSWER:
ALL WE AIM FOR IS FIRST TO QUALIFY AND THEN TO PLAY A GOOD PART IN SOUTH AFRICA.

QUESTION:
What is your opinion about Oliver Kahn?
ANSWER:
ONE OF THE BEST INTERNATIONAL GOAL KEEPERS EVER. A TRUE LEADER OF ANY TEAM.

QUESTION:
Who do you believe was the most appropriate goalkeeper for Mundial 2006 Kahn or Lehmann?
ANSWER:
IT WOULD BE A LACK OF RESPECT TOWARDS GERMAN TEAM COACH JUERGEN KLINSMANN IF I GAVE ANY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.

QUESTION:
Which team is likely to win Bundensliga this year?
ANSWER:
I AM SURE FC BAYERN MUNICH WILL BE AT THE TOP BY THE END OF THIS SEASON.

QUESTION:
Some months ago you won Greece. However, some believe that the decision of the referee about Vyntra was unfair. Was this the real reason of your victory?
ANSWER:
I DO NOT COMMENT EVER ON ANY REFEREE'S DECISION. THE MAIN REASON WAS: MY TEAM NEVER LOST THE BELIEF IN BEING ABLE TO WIN THIS MATCH. I TOOK MANY RISKS, HAD MANY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM FOR THE LAST MINUTES - AND WE NEEDED A WORLD CLASS SAVE BY OUR GOALKEEPER BENAGLIO TO AVOID GETTING DOWN 0-1.

QUESTION:
Who do you believe is the best coach this season in the World?
ANSWER:
NO ONE CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION SERIOUSLY THIS WAY. AT THE END OF THE SEASON WE SHALL SEE WHO WON THE TITLES IN BOTH CLUB AND NATIONAL TEAM'S FOOTBALL.

QUESTION:
What are you hobbies?
ANSWER:
PLAYING GOLF (VERY SELDOM), FAMILY, READING.

QUESTION:
What was the best and the worst moment in all of your career?
ANSWER:
I HAVE HAD SO MANY. SOME OF THE BEST MOMENTS WERE THE WINS OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH DORTMUND IN 1997 AND WITH BAYERN MUNICH IN 2001. ONE OF THE WORST WAS THE LOSS OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL WITH BAYERN AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED 10 YEARS AGO AND THE HOME DEFEAT AGAINST LUXEMBURG LAST YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF MY NATIONAL TEAMCOACH CAREER IN SWITZERLAND.

QUESTION:
What was the best team that you ever coached?
ANSWER:
TOO HARD TO SAY. TEAMS GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES DURING A SEASONAL PERIOD AND OVER THE YEARS.

QUESTION:
What is your opinion about Stefan Effenberg?
ANSWER:
A VERY GOOD MIDFIELD PLAYER, VERY IMPRESSIVE PERSONALITY.

QUESTION:
What were your feelings when you left Bayern Munchen? Do you believe that this was one of the reasons that led Bayern out of any title?
ANSWER:
MY FAREWELL CEREMONY AT THE ALLIANZ ARENA WAS VERY TOUCHY. I WAS NEVER ASHAMED OF SHOWING MY TEARS, I WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. WHAT CAME AFTER ME, IS NOT MY JOB TO COMMENT ON.