FC Bayern mourns Egon Coordes: legend dies at the age of 80

FC Bayern mourns Egon Coordes: legend dies at the age of 80

A great loss for German football and the fans of FC Bayern Munich: Egon Coordes died on June 17, 2025 at the age of 80 after a long illness in his home in Memmingen. His family confirmed this sad farewell, which comes after an impressive but often rocky career in football. Coordes, born on July 13, 1944 in Bremerhaven, not only leaves behind a long list of successes, but also a striking personality that has left a significant mark on both the playing and coaching sectors. [Merkur]. was.

During the years he worked with him, FC Bayern Munich celebrated great successes, including becoming German champions four times in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990. A passionate and uncompromising trainer, Coordes was known for his harsh training methods and was often referred to as a “grinder.” His strict leadership style and tireless pursuit of excellence shaped the players and made him an ideal addition to one of the most prominent coaching teams in football. According to ZDF, he returned to Bayern in 1997 as Trapattoni's assistant and was again on the coaching staff under Heynckes in 2011 and 2012.

From the beginning to the coaching career

Coordes' career began in the youth ranks at Leher TS and took him via TuS Bremerhaven 93 to the Bundesliga, where he played as a defender for Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart. During his time in the top German league, he scored a total of eight goals in 189 appearances, including the legendary 10,000. Goal in the Bundesliga. He ended his active playing career in 1976. He took his first steps as a coach in Bremerhaven and after a few positions in the regional league, he took the big step to Bayern Munich, where his successes could not be overlooked. Wikipedia highlights that Coordes was considered a fanatic for order and always drove his players to achieve their best with iron discipline.

Despite his success as a coach in Munich, his path was not always straight. In his head coaching positions at VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV, he had only moderate success due to his direct nature and the conflicts associated with it. International positions in Austria, Switzerland, the Gulf region and even briefly in Iran often ended after less than a year. Coordes failed to find the same taste for success in these countries as he did in Germany.

A lasting legacy

His unconventional approach to the press and lack of consideration for journalists led to overall negative reporting about him. Nevertheless, he remains remembered as a formative figure. His return to Bayern in the final years of his career as a scout made him an indispensable part of the Bayern family, where he discovered Hansi Flick, among others. Coordes’ influence in football will last forever and his legacy will shape generations to come.

Egon Coordes will be remembered not only as a sharp coach, but also as a passionate football personality who helped FC Bayern Munich achieve great strength. His ambitious nature and tireless commitment to the sport will live on in the hearts of many fans.