Greek soccer breathed a sigh of relief after the 65-year-old decided to guide Greece through to the next World Cup.
No team coached by a foreigner has won either of the biggest prizes in international soccer - the European Championship and the World Cup - until now.
With the mammoth task of facing a country that appears to grow great players on trees, Greece go into their final Group B clash with Argentina on Tuesday knowing they have nothing to lose.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel kept faith with the players that took the reigning European champions to Euro 2008 when he named his 23-man squad on Wednesday. Only AEK Athens central defender Socratis Papastathopoulos was cut from the squad that travelled to Budapest for the friendly against Hungary on Saturday.
Greece came back from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the World Cup on Thursday after the African team had to play with 10 men for almost two thirds of the Group B game.
Greece came back from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the World Cup on Thursday after the African team had to play with 10 men for almost two thirds of the Group B game.
'The opponent was technically better than us but we took advantage of our chances,' said Greece's German coach.
A look at the Greece squad ahead of their Euro 2004 semi-final against the Czech Republic.
Relishing their underdog status, the Greeks hope to defend solidly and break open the Czech defence with quick counter-attacks.
Coach Otto Rehhagel said his team achieved something totally unknown to Greece.
Brazilian Ronaldinho was named World Soccer magazine's Player of the Year on Thursday with Jose Mourinho winning Manager of 2004 and Greece taking the Team award.
German coach Otto Rehhagel hailed the 1-0 silver goal victory over Czech Republic in Thursday's Euro 2004 semi-final as a miracle.
Greece had beaten Spain away 12 months ago in the qualifying competition for the European Championship, forcing them into the play-offs.
Whether it is Greece's victory at Euro 2004, Denmark's success in 1992 or Iceland's run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, the similarities between successful smaller countries and their approaches seem striking.
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