Summer of ’94 documentary filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker joined U.S. soccer luminaries Alexi Laras, Ed Foster-Simeon and John Harkes at SXSW for a panel moderated by Variety in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, reflecting on the legacy of legendary soccer coach Bora Milutinovic.
Milutinovic, who currently lives in Qatar with his activities with the Qatar Football Federation, was absent but was frequently mentioned. “He sends his love with a bunch of gibberish emojis,” LaMattina joked.
Speaking about his experience interviewing the famously enigmatic manager, LaMattina said: “They gave us the impression that he was very difficult to understand… and I think that was 100% true. But I was actually really struck by his warmth and love for the players.”
Walker also reflected on the confusion during filming. “I stood there and said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to get anything. I can’t understand anything he’s saying,'” he said. “Then when you put the footage back into the edit, you’ll see him answering the questions in a more poetic way.”
Panelists agreed that his unconventional style is central to Milutinovic’s philosophy. Lalas, a former player, testified that he conducts continuous testing to build team chemistry and confidence, focusing on building the “best collection of players” rather than simply the most talented individuals.
The discussion moved to the present, with Mr. Simeon of the U.S. Soccer Foundation emphasizing the “Yes Coach” concept. “16 million children in this country don’t have a mentor,” he said, adding that coaches are an important part of addressing isolation and mental health issues among young people.
For LaMattina and Walker, the documentary serves as both a memorial and a call to action. “Our approach to this film was that we wanted to solidify their legacy,” LaMattina said. “But we really wanted it to be a rallying cry as well. To show that what this U.S. team can accomplish is truly beyond our imagination.”
