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Scotland: Lothar Matthaus interested in manager's job

By Chris McLaughlinSenior Football Reporter, BBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments113

Former German international Lothar Matthaus

Former Germany international Lothar Matthaus is keen on becoming Scotland manager, BBC Scotland has learned.

The former Partizan Belgrade, Hungary and Red Bull Salzburg coach has been out of football since failing to guide Bulgaria to Euro 2012.

His representatives are understood to have contacted the Scottish Football Association following Craig Levein's sacking two weeks ago.

Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan and Owen Coyle remain favourites to get the job.

Matthaus, who starred for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, won 150 caps for Germany from 1980-2000 and lifted the 1990 World Cup as German captain.

After retiring, he began a nomadic coaching career at Rapid Vienna, before moving on to Partizan - spending a year in each role.

In 2004 he took over as manager of Hungary, where he stayed until 2006, when he was linked with taking over as Hearts manager.

He then moved to Brazil as head coach of Atlético Paranaense, but lasted only seven games before leaving, citing homesickness.

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Two months later Matthaus was appointed manager of Red Bull Salzburg, where he was fired despite winning the 2006-07 title.

Maccabi Netanya in Israel was Matthaus' next destination, where he again left after only one season, before becoming manager of Bulgaria in September 2010.

The former midfielder is also well-known in his homeland for a colourful private life, with four failed marriages.

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113 comments

  • Comment posted by Big Stupots claw hammer, at 12:29 18 Nov 2012

    I think this would be a fantastic choice for manager.

    Why don't we get another German manager in, after all the last German we got done a fantastic job didn't he??

    Why not go the full road and bring in Steve Kean as his assistant.

    Better off bringing in his 4 ex wives to do the job between them, we'd have more chance of qualifying.

  • Comment posted by User0630303107, at 15:02 18 Nov 2012

    It seems Lothar doesn't hang around too long in the 1 place - 2 years at Hungary & Bulgaria.
    We need a manager who can commit for a few years and build up a good squad.
    There are some talented youngsters e.g Jordan Rhodes, who just need to play and will surely improve under the right guidance.

  • Comment posted by No Name, at 22:10 17 Nov 2012

    why ? why ? why ? we do not need any more foreign duds in Scottish football they have ruined Scottish football throw them all out now we do not need them and cant afford them....

  • Comment posted by Jeff, at 23:08 17 Nov 2012

    Mark Hughes will be available soon...

  • Comment posted by Koyomi, at 00:37 18 Nov 2012

    A new manager could potentially help the situation, however what Scotland need is a good creative midfielder and some better strikers. There's good players there but the current lot are little above average.

  • Comment posted by User0362458550, at 01:21 18 Nov 2012

    87 chelski_kings_of_europe
    "Can't do any worse than Levein!"

    That's what we said about Burley!

  • Comment posted by User0563516188, at 13:39 19 Nov 2012

    @ 48. Spoooooon

    The thing with giving these players the opportunity to play international football does help in the long term because it gives them the experience they wouldn't normally get at club level. This experience in turn is then spread through the leagues which at the end of the day improves the quality of Scottish football in general...

  • Comment posted by User0646720262, at 18:48 18 Nov 2012

    Who is more deluded Scotland fans expectatations or Lothar thinking he can qualify for a tournament with these no hopers (perhaps he could get a game?)

  • Comment posted by User0147299316, at 15:21 17 Nov 2012

    Whilst Vogts record was abysmal as Head Coach, he was the last manager to get Scotland to a play off place (euro 2004). Can Matthaus be any worse than Burley, Levein, McLeish or Votgs.

  • Comment posted by dro55y, at 15:13 18 Nov 2012

    I think Lothar should stick to his latest career change...as the Scouse comedian John Bishop.
    Actually, he may fit in perfectly at the SFA with all of the other comedy acts currently running it.

  • Comment posted by User0282067109, at 13:16 18 Nov 2012

    I've never agreed with foreign managers for national teams. Surely a national team should all be of the same nationality. How did FIFA allow this to happen? Oh I know - because they are inept. Time for a woman manager?

  • Comment posted by User0642633149, at 17:11 17 Nov 2012

    take paul lambert someone up there might understand wot he's talking about

  • Comment posted by User0266533706, at 09:50 18 Nov 2012

    Great player, no denying that but clearly inept as a manager.

  • Comment posted by chris, at 16:14 17 Nov 2012

    @wilson82 - "shows what you know. Sir Alex took an awful Aberdeen team and made them into something great. They were the last team to win the league outside of the old firm and he then went and beat Real Madrid in the European Cup. "Done it all at a club with money"? I don't think so.

    I idolised Matthaus when I was younger, amazing player but he doesn't strike me as a good manager."

    Well said :)

  • Comment posted by cobweb, at 15:22 17 Nov 2012

    The bigger problem is that no matter who gets the job there needs to be fundamental change in the set ups of the Scottish leagues and youth development to make a big difference to the national team. Otherwise it's a all just a stop-gap.

    It's a poisoned chalice really & I can't see any manager of note rushing to it as it's a destroyer of reputation.

  • Comment posted by User0457716352, at 16:12 17 Nov 2012

    That this guy keeps being given jobs is a mystery, he has failed nearly everywhere he's been. Celebrity obsession?

  • Comment posted by User0759959964, at 19:55 17 Nov 2012

    Four wives, umpteen clubs - he's not a stayer, is he?!

  • Comment posted by AlbaCridhe, at 12:58 19 Nov 2012

    Agree with no 82 - lets give Billy Connolly a bell. At least the post match interviews would be entertaining - better than the dull scripted rubbish we get these days, and significantly better than whats going on the pitch!

  • Comment posted by wilson82, at 15:41 17 Nov 2012

    Yip fergie has won a lot but hes done it at a club with all the money. its not a hard thing to do. Its like a kid cud manage barca. same team every week go out n win. Managers at lower clubs have a much harder job to do.

  • Comment posted by sthomson18, at 15:50 17 Nov 2012

    I'm not opposed to having a foreign manager if he's better than any of the Scottish one's up for the job. Never really heard much about this guy however. He doesn't seem to have had a huge deal of success, I'd also maybe prefer an Eastern European manager who I think could instill a strong mentality and give us a tactical strength to our game that we've been sorely lacking.

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