Lothar Matthaus to be new Bulgaria coach
Former German World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus has agreed to become Bulgaria's new national team coach.
BFU president Borislav Mihaylov said the 49-year-old will be unveiled in the next few days and has agreed a one-year deal with the option of two more years.Matthaus was boss of Hungary in 2004-05 and has also coached a number of clubs, including Austria's Rapid Vienna.
Bulgaria next face Wales on 8 October in Euro 2012 qualifying Group G, which also contains England.
Bulgaria were beaten 4-0 by Fabio Capello's men at Wembley on 3 September and then lost their next game 1-0 at home to Montenegro four days later - results that led Matthaus' predecessor, Stanimir Stoilov, to resign.
"We need a foreign coach with a strong background whom the players will respect," said Mihaylov.
Matthaus, who won a record 150 caps for Germany and led them to World Cup success in 1990 as a player, was named as the first Fifa World Player of the Year in 1991.
He began his playing career with Borussia Monchengladbach, but more famously represented Bayern Munich 302 times over two spells, separated by a stint in Italy with Inter Milan. He also spent one season in the United States with the then New York MetroStars in 2000.
After his playing career ended, he moved into coaching initially with Rapid Vienna for the 2001/02 season. He has also coached Serbian club Partizan Belgrade, Brazilian's Atletico Paranaense, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and most recently Israel's Maccabi Netanya for the 2008/09 season.
Bulgaria host England on 2 September 2011 and Wales on 11 October of the same year in Euro 2012 qualifying.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9020739.stm[ 本文被丹尼屎在2010-09-21 23:47重新編輯 ]
