‘Summer of ’94’ Doc Filmmakers and Soccer Icons Reflect on Coach Bora Milutinovic’s Lasting Legacy

“Summer of ’94” documentary filmmakers Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker joined U.S. soccer figures Alexi Lalas, Ed Foster-Simeon and John Harkes at SXSW for a panel moderated by Variety in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, to reflect on the legacy of legendary soccer coach Bora Milutinović.

Milutinović, who now lives in Qatar working with the Qatari Soccer Federation, was absent but frequently referenced. “He sends his love via many, many emojis that make no sense,” LaMattina joked.

Discussing their experience interviewing the famously enigmatic coach, LaMattina said, “These guys had given us sort of an impression of him as he is very hard to understand… and I think that was 100% true. But I was actually really struck by his warmth and his love for the players.”

Walker also recalled the confusion during filming. “I’m standing there going, ‘I don’t think we’re getting anything. I don’t understand anything that he’s saying,’” he said. “And then we get the footage back in the edit and you realize that he is answering the question in a much more poetic way.”

That unconventional style, the panelists agreed, was central to Milutinović’s philosophy. Former player Lalas attested to his focus on building “the best collection of players,” not simply the most talented individuals, using constant tests to shape team chemistry and confidence.

The discussion also turned to the present where Simeon, of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, highlighted the “Yes Coach” initiative. He noted that “16 million kids in this country don’t have a mentor,” and that coaches are critical figures in addressing youth isolation and mental health challenges.

For LaMattina and Walker, the documentary serves as both a tribute and a call to action. “The approach to this film was that we wanted to cement their legacy,” LaMattina said. “But we also really wanted to make it a rallying cry. To show that what this U.S. team can achieve can really be beyond what we can imagine.”

View this article at Variety.