Football: Legendary 1860 Munich coach Werner Lorant dies
As a player in the 1970s and 1980s, Lorant represented Borussia Dortmund, Rot-Weiss Essen, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Hannover 96, Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt, winning the German Cup and UEFA Cup with the latter.
But it was as the long-serving head coach of 1860 Munich between 1992 and 2001 that Lorant really made his name, leading Die Löwen (the lions) from the third division to the Bundesliga.
His greatest achievement was the team finishing fourth in 2000. This position in the Bundesliga saw 1860 enter the Champions League qualification play-off round — where they lost to English Premier League side Leeds United.
The German club confirmed Lorant's death following a long illness on Sunday, describing him as "one of the most successful coaches in the club's 125-year history."
"Football meant the world to him," his sister told 1860 fan website dieblaue24, who first reported the news. "When he no longer had football, he was no longer well. He loved Die Löwen. They were close to his heart."
During his coaching career, Lorant developed a reputation for no-nonsense management.
Asked once by a journalist why he hadn't substituted a clearly injured player despite being 5-1 up against Nuremberg, he replied: "Players are only subbed if their leg falls off."
After being sent to the stands during an away game against Werder Bremen for insulting the referee, he then said the official "can be happy that I didn't slap him" — earning himself a fine of 8,000 marks (around €4,000 or $4,560).
Later in his career, he wasn't a fan of new technology and banned his players from using mobile phones, saying: "If a phone goes off [on the team bus], they can get off and use the phone to call a taxi."
His general motto as a coach was: "Everyone is entitled to an opinion — but only mine counts."
Nowadays, 1860 Munich – Bayern Munich's city rivals – are marooned in the third division again, having been forcibly relegated to the fourth tier in 2017 as a result of a complicated relationship with a controversial investor.
Jordanian billionaire Hasan Ismaik purchased a 60% stake in the club in 2011, helping to save it from insolvency, but he failed to understand that German football's 50+1 ownership rule prevented him from actually exercising majority control.
Following relegation to the third division in 2017, Ismaik effectively attempted to blackmail the club, withholding the necessary funding for a league license unless he was given full control — something the club were neither wiling nor legally able to do. Consequently, 1860 were automatically relegated to division four, before fighting their way back up.
But the relationship with Ismaik has remained strained — until he announced last Sunday that he would finally be interested in selling his stake in the club.
"I think 1860 needs someone new, they don't need Hasan," he told German public broadcaster ARD, referring to himself in the third person. "I want to sell the club and just be an 1860 fan."
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Chloe Kelly's Heroics And Spain's Bitter Loss: England's Euro Victory Had It All
England are back-to-back European champions and once again it was Chloe Kelly who provided the perfect conclusion. The Arsenal star walked up to the penalty spot with confidence and poise, rolled the ball backward a couple of times, and then did her signature hop before firing a shot into the upper left corner past Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll. It was a fitting moment to an epic final between the two best teams in the world, one that saw England manage yet another comeback at this tournament. Two goals scored from headers – Mariona Caldentay's opener in the 25th minute and Alessia Russo's equalizer in the 57th minute – set up a dramatic finish in Sunday's final. Neither team was able to find the back of the net again in extra time, meaning the game would have to be decided by a penalty shootout. England's 24-year-old goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made three saves, including one against two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí. It was then Kelly's time, who scored the game-winner as the Lionesses prevailed. Here's what stood out from the match: Kelly's legend keeps growing Kelly etched her name into women's football lore three years ago when she scored the game-winning goal for England against Germany to win the 2022 Euros. She tore off her shirt in celebration like Brandi Chastain, and the moment forever changed the sport in England. Earlier this year, she made a permanent transfer to Arsenal and proceeded to help the club win the Champions League title. And then this summer, she played a major role for England as a game-changer off the bench, tallying two assists and two game-winning goals in the knockout round. Kelly could have been sour about not being a starter, but she clearly trusted manager Sarina Wiegman's strategy and was an important solution off the bench. It always worked in England's favor, especially when it was Kelly who also scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal vs. Italy that sent the Lionesses to the final, and then stepped up as the fifth PK shooter in the final. England is now the first nation to win consecutive European championships since Germany in 2013. And Wiegman has now won three straight Euro titles: 2017 with the Netherlands and 2022 and '25 with England. England's resilience prevails There's no doubt this victory was especially sweet for England, which lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. Widely considered to be the No. 1 team in the world – despite technically being ranked No. 2 behind the United States in FIFA's rankings – Spain was a more formidable opponent than the German squad England faced in the Euro final three years ago. And the way England had to come together and defeat the Spanish was probably the most impressive part. Throughout this tournament, the Lionesses didn't always look like the best team. They lost their first match against France before needing to create their own luck to come from behind and beat Sweden and Italy in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively. That was the recipe Wiegman's team used against La Roja on Sunday. When Spain took the lead or controlled the tempo or just looked like the more talented team, England didn't get flustered. Down 1-0 at halftime, the group came out of the break smiling and loose. They faced adversity head on and found a way to win. "For those that don't think mentality and resiliency matter, they matter," U.S. women's national team legend and FOX Sports analyst Carli Lloyd said on the broadcast after the match. "You can have all the tactics in the world, you can have some of the best players in the world on the field playing the most beautiful football. "But at the end of the day, the adversity, the resiliency, the togetherness is what you need." Disappointment for Spain Even with the loss, Spain has arguably the most talented squad in the world. They will be back and now have even more ammunition as they prepare to defend their World Cup title in less than two years' time. The reigning World Cup champions were an overwhelming favorite to win the Euros. While England was tested throughout each round with adversity, Spain mostly dominated opponents. Sure, La Roja was challenged by hosts Switzerland (buoyed by their home crowds) and perennial powerhouse Germany, but they were always the stronger side. After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime in Sunday's game, the overall feeling was that Spain needed to score again early in the second half to take England out of the match. Instead, the Lionesses equalized early in the second half. Bonmatí, whose beautiful goal vs. Germany in extra time Spain to the final, wasn't as involved as she could have been. Alexia Putellas also had a quiet night as she was subbed off in the second half. Penalties were off to a solid start for Spain when Coll stopped shots from Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, but misses by Caldentay, Bonmatí and Salma Paralluelo ultimately set up the dramatic game-winner from Kelly. And despite the loss, Bonmatí was awarded the player of the tournament – the first time a player from a losing side had been awarded the trophy. The women's game keeps growing This tournament has been yet another shining example of how women's soccer is growing around the world. If the colorful and passionate scenes of the pre-match fan walks throughout Switzerland during the tournament weren't enough, these Euros registered record-breaking attendance numbers. UEFA reported a record 657,291 spectators attended the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 574,875 fans who attended the 2022 Euros in England. "UEFA Women's EURO 2025 has marked a major milestone in the evolution of women's football," UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said in a statement. "With record-breaking attendance, exceptional media coverage and unprecedented global interest, the tournament has captured the world's attention. "The success of the tournament also showcases our continued, significant investment in the women's game, reflecting our long-term commitment to its growth. We are proud of the remarkable progress made in the women's game – yet this is just the beginning." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . Get more from the UEFA Euro Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Luis Diaz's medical details before signing with Bayern Munich
New Colombian in the Bundesliga. Luis Diaz's medical details before signing with Bayern Munich The long-anticipated transfer of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich reaches its final stages, with the Colombian winger scheduled for medical tests in Germany on Monday. Liverpool's hierarchy reluctantly agreed to the £65.4 million deal after Bayern's persistent pursuit finally met their valuation. Diaz's departure comes after months of frustration over stalled contract negotiations, with the 28-year-old feeling undervalued at Anfield. His absence during Liverpool's 4-2 pre-season defeat to AC Milan in Asia spoke volumes, with new manager Arne Slot acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the player's future while praising his professionalism in training. Bayern's initial £58.5 million approach last week fell short, but Vincent Kompany's determination to land his target proved decisive. The improved weekend offer triggered Liverpool's acceptance, paving the way for Diaz to end his three-year Merseyside stint. Slot remained coy when pressed about potential exits, deflecting questions linking Darwin Nunez's similar absence to transfer speculation.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bayern preparing improved Diaz bid of more than £60m
Bayern Munich are planning an improved offer for Liverpool forward Luis Diaz. The Bundesliga side had an initial £58.6m bid for the Colombia international turned down by the Premier League champions earlier this month. But Bayern are determined to land Diaz and sources are indicating that the German title holders are hoping an agreement can be reached. The offer - inclusive of add-ons - will likely be more than £60m. Diaz was left out of Liverpool's squad for Saturday's 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat by AC Milan in Hong Kong because of speculation surrounding his departure from the club. "There are a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that," said Liverpool manager Arne Slot. "He's training really well with us but we've decided for now not to play him yet." Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are interested in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak. Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and he was an integral part of the squad that won the 2024-25 Premier League title. Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views Get Liverpool news sent straight to your phone