Athens: Champagne corks flew and cigars were being lit on board the Greek charter flight as the players celebrated their qualification for next year's World Cup following their 1-0 win in Ukraine.
But amid all the hubbub Greece coach Otto Rehhagel chose to remain in his seat throughout the flight, toasting his players only once, sitting down.
The 71-year-old German, who had just steered his team to yet another major tournament after two consecutive European championship appearances in his 100th game in charge, was his usual stoical self.
His players were planning to go out and celebrate immediately after arriving in Athens as dozens of television cameras covered their arrival at 0400 in the morning.
Rehhagel remained in the baggage claim area until every player and official had left and all but a handful of hard-core Greece fans remained to greet him in the arrivals area.
Greek media consistently call him stubborn as Rehhagel has stuck with ageing players, at times even calling up players who are without a team.
But once again his insistence on sticking with his ideas paid off.
"We will play exciting football when we have (Lionel) Messi, Kaka, (Andres) Iniesta and Xavi on the team," Rehhagel told a Ukrainian reporter who asked when his team would produce more spectacular soccer and not just get results.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 19:13