Germany
coach Rudi Voeller resigned yesterday after the three-times world
and European champions were knocked out of Euro 2004.
Germany drew their first two group matches, including a 0-0 result
with debutants Latvia, before going
down 1-2 to a second string Czech Republic on Wednesday in Group
D.
The 44-year-old Voeller said that the national side needed a new
start before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
"I have the feeling that only someone who is untarnished
and has a certain credibility - like I had four years ago - can
do the job over the next two years," he told a news conference.
Voeller told team officials overnight and they had asked him not
to make a hasty decision.
"He told us it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision taken
just after the game. We regret this decision very much but we have
to accept it," said German federation president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder.
Voeller had a contract until the World Cup in 2006. His predecessor,
Erich Ribbeck, resigned after Germany were knocked out of the 2000
European Championship in the first round.
Ottmar Hitzfeld, recently sacked
by Bayern Munich, is favourite to replace Voeller. Greece manager
Otto Rehhagel and Christoph Daum of Turkey's Fenerbahce are also
in the frame.
A World Cup winner as a player in 1990, Voeller restored Germany's
pride with a surprise run to the 2002 World Cup final where they
lost to Brazil.
Germany struggled to qualify for Euro 2004 and suffered a poor
run-up to the tournament, including a 1-5 thrashing by Romania.
Voeller was jeered by German fans
after the Czech defeat and was close to tears in the post-match
news conference.
"There was too little yesterday," Voeller said, referring
to the match.
"I had it in my head already that I would probably not go
on. It would be fatal to hang on to the job and carry on regardless.
I told the players last night that life goes on."
Voeller is the first coach to fall on his sword at the European
Championship. However, the coaches of two other traditional powers
who were knocked out in the first round, Spain and Italy, could
lose their jobs in the next 36 hours.
Inaki Saez, the coach of Spain, has tendered his resignation, according
to media.
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni could have his contract ended when
his country's soccer federation meet today.
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