Otto Rehhagel is the oldest coach in World Cup history, having wrested the record from Cesare Maldini, who coached Paraguay. The German was 71 years and 317 days when he led Greece against Diego Maradona’s Argentina in their last group game at South Africa 2010.
Rehhagel’s record is poised to be prised. Miroslav Koubek, who guided Czechia to a penalty-shootout victory over Denmark in the UEFA play-off finals, is 74. South Africa coach Hugo Broos turns the same age this month.
The oldest man to coach in the knockout phase is Oscar Tabarez, who was 71 years and 125 days when he guided Uruguay against France in the Russia 2018 quarter-finals. Louis van Gaal was two days younger when he took charge of the Netherlands against Argentina in the last eight of Qatar 2022.
