Film Review: ‘King Otto’: The Improbable Ascent of the Greek National Football Team

Over the last half century, the powers that be in the athletic establishment have tried multiple times to convince the American public that soccer (henceforth to be referred to here as “football”) is the greatest sport in the world. The latest stab in 1996 (Major League Soccer) took hold somewhat, yet attendance and TV ratings still lag behind that of the National Football League and Major League Baseball—two organizations with their own declining numbers issues.

For the longest time, the people of Greece had the same “fair weather” attitude that many Americans exhibit with their “favorite” teams. They love ‘em when they win but ignore them when they lose, and the Greek National Football Team rarely won. The players in the various incarnations of the team cared too little, partied too much, and seemed content with perpetual mediocrity.

Enough Was Enough

By 2001, Greek Football Federation President Vassilis Gagatsis had had enough of 20 years of the national team’s not even qualifying for the prestigious UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Championship, the Super Bowl of the sport in Europe, and he made a bold move.

While the personnel in the private sector leagues work for teams in other countries with regularity (this also happens in professional basketball and hockey all the time), the players and coaches of national teams are almost always the native sons of those countries. Gagatsis offered Otto Rehhagel the top job and he accepted, even though he didn’t speak a single word of Greek.

Born in 1938, Rehhagel survived the bombing of Essen, Germany, took a shine to football after the end of World War II, and joined the local TuS Helene Altenessen team at age 10. After his 24-year professional playing career ended, Rehhagel managed various private German teams for nearly 30 years while winning the German Cup three times. He’s one of only two men to participate in over 1,000 German pro-football matches as a player or coach.

Language and Culture Barriers

Forget about the language barrier; that was an easy fix. Rehhagel’s hand-picked second-in-command (Ioannis Topalidis) was fluent in German and Greek and acted as his translator. As Rehhagel and a dozen or so of his former Greek players point out, the culture shock was far more pronounced and presented the greatest of many upcoming hurdles. Rehhagel had a disciplined approach to the game. He felt that defense won matches and that the players’ viewing the opponents with cool, unemotional detachment would yield the best results. The players lived in the moment, put the emphasis on offense, and wore their hearts on their sleeves.

First-time writer-director and co-producer Christopher André Marks stumbles a bit right out of the gate by including something that more-seasoned filmmakers would probably cut or maybe include in a blooper reel on the home video release. He begins interviewing Rehhagel first in Greek, then in English, and finally in German. It’s designed to come off as “folksy” and impromptu but, in actuality, is just plain clumsy.

Otto Rehhagel (L) and director Christopher André Marks at a press conference for "King Otto." (Cinema Nolita)

A Quick Recovery

Marks quickly recovers and presents the remainder of the narrative in an unorthodox but fitting quarter-quarter-half manner. The first 20 minutes cover Rehhagel’s childhood and years as a player and an even better coach in Germany. The second portion is devoted to the “growing pains” years with the Greek National Team. This stretch is accompanied by loss after loss and lots of Monday Morning quarterbacking from Gagatsis, the players, and the few devoted Greek fans being let down once again.

It is at the halfway point of the streamlined 80-minute production where Marks fully hits his groove and heads to the finish line with a steady gallop.

For those football fans already familiar with what took place at the 2004 UEFA tournament in Portugal, nothing much will come as a surprise, although it is still heart-racing. For those entering the film with no knowledge of the events, it will play out as an underdog sports thriller for the ages. If you’re interested in watching the movie, whatever you do, DO NOT go to Wikipedia or do a web search about the 2004 UEFA results before viewing the film. It will thoroughly ruin the first-view experience for you.

Other Similar Efforts

There are a dozen or so excellent live-action, nonfiction sports movies cut from this same type of cloth. For hockey, there’s “Miracle”; for baseball, there’s “Eight Men Out,” “Moneyball,” and “The Pride of the Yankees.” American football has the films “Brian’s Song” and “Rudy,” while golf has “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Tennis has “The Battle of the Sexes,” and ice skating “I, Tonya.” For auto racing, there’s “Senna” and “Ford v Ferrari.” For wrestling, there’s “Foxcatcher”; and for boxing, there’s “The Fighter” and “Raging Bull.”

Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” is actually about football but it really isn’t worth your time. The same goes for “Pelé: Birth of a Legend.” About the only recommendable live-action, nonfiction football movie would be “The Damned United.”

From the start, it is evident that Rehhagel is a man with an extra-large ego and isn’t shy or coy in talking about his talent and past glories. What’s that, they say? “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.” All of what Marks lays out here is factual, and if you can “handle the truth” with some medium-to-heavy braggadocio on the side, “King Otto” will be well worth your investment of time.

Theatrical poster for "King Otto." (Cinema Nolita)

Presented in German and Greek with English subtitles.

‘King Otto’ Documentary Director: Christopher André Marks Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes Not Rated Release Date: March 25, 2022 Rating: 4 out of 5