Klinsmann quits as Germany coach
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-12 08:49
FRANKFURT, Germany - Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to a third-place
finish at the World Cup last week, is stepping down, the co-president of the
German soccer federation said early Wednesday.
Germany's national
soccer team head coach Juergen Klinsmann celebrates with fans at the 'Fan
Mile' in Berlin on Sunday July 9, 2006.Thousands of German soccer fans
celebrate their team after Germany beat Portugal 3-1 at the third place
match of the soccer World Cup on Saturday. Shirt reads:'Thank you
Germany.' [AP] |
"I regret his decision, but we have to accept it," Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder
said.
The mass-circulation Bild newspaper and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung first
reported in their Wednesday editions that Klinsmann wouldn't extend his contract
that ended with the World Cup.
Klinsmann called German soccer federation (DFB) co-president Theo Zwanziger
and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to tell them that he would not be
staying in the job, the papers reported.
DFB spokesman Harald Stenger confirmed that Klinsmann had called Zwanziger
and Bierhoff but would not disclose the details of the conversation.
The two newspapers said Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Loew was the likely
successor.
Klinsmann's rejuvenated team went beyond expectations by finishing third,
after losing to eventual champion Italy 2-0 in the semifinals.
Klinsmann, 41, had no previous coaching experience when he took over an
ailing German squad two years ago.
After Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to take third place, Klinsmann said he would
think about his future over the next few days and consult with his
California-based family.
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