Werner Lorant, one of German football’s most colorful and successful coaches, has died at the age of 76 after a long illness, his family and former club TSV 1860 Munich confirmed on Sunday.
Lorant made his name as head coach of 1860 Munich from 1992 to 2001, guiding the team from the third division to the Bundesliga. His biggest achievement came in 2000, when he led the club to a fourth-place Bundesliga finish and a Champions League qualification play-off spot.
“Football meant the world to him,” his sister told fan site dieblaue24, which first reported the news. “When he no longer had football, he was no longer well. He loved Die Löwen.”
Before becoming a coach, Lorant had a successful playing career in the 1970s and 1980s, representing clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, and Eintracht Frankfurt — with whom he won both the German Cup and UEFA Cup.
1860 Munich paid tribute to him, calling him “one of the most successful coaches in the club’s 125-year history.”
A Coach with Attitude
Lorant was known not only for results but also for his fiery personality and blunt quotes.
Once asked why he didn’t substitute an injured player despite leading 5-1, he famously said: “Players are only subbed if their leg falls off.”
After being fined for insulting a referee during a game, he added: “He can be happy that I didn’t slap him.”
He even banned mobile phones on the team bus, saying: “If a phone goes off, they can get off and use the phone to call a taxi.”
His coaching philosophy was clear: “Everyone is entitled to an opinion — but only mine counts.”
1860 Munich’s Modern Struggles
Today, Lorant’s former club is far from its glory days. After financial turmoil and clashes with controversial investor Hasan Ismaik, 1860 Munich currently plays in Germany’s third division.
Ismaik, a Jordanian billionaire, bought a 60% stake in 2011 but was frustrated by Germany’s 50+1 rule, which limited his control. In 2017, after disagreements with the club’s leadership, Ismaik withheld funding for a league license, resulting in forced relegation to the fourth division. The club has since climbed back to the third tier.
Last week, Ismaik said he is now open to selling his stake: “I think 1860 needs someone new, they don’t need Hasan. I want to sell the club and just be an 1860 fan.”
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