Rudi Gutendorf's management career lasted 53 years and took in 17 national managers jobs in charge of Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Antigua, Botswana, Australia, New Caledonia, Nepal, Tonga, Tanzania, Ghana, Nepal again, Fiji, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Rwanda. He also took charge of the Iranian and Chinese Olympic teams in 1988 and 1992, respectively.

When asked once why he had managed in so many different countries, the German replied: "One cannot conserve excitement."