German players urge Klinsmann to stay on (Roundup)

By Barry Whelan Jul 6, 2006, 14:22 GMT

Berlin - German players are calling on Juergen Klinsmann to continue in charge of the national team after the World Cup but the country's football federation says the coach has time to consider.

Klinsmann will be put under no pressure to make a decision on his future, German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger confirmed Thursday.

'He really needs a few days - whether that's eight or 14, or three or four weeks does not matter,' he told Kicker sports magazine.

Klinsmann, 41, has said he will consider whether to stay on as coach once Germany's last match - the game for third place against Portugal in Stuttgart on Saturday - is over.

On Thursday striker Miroslav Klose and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann joined the chorus of players calling on Klinsmann to carry on the job he started nearly two years ago after Euro 2004.

'We all know that Juergen Klinsmann is a very big component in the national team. He has built something fascinating and every player wants him to continue,' Klose said.

Lehmann said all the players backed Klinsmann.

'If he decides not to continue the disappointment would be great because one doesn't know what will come afterwards,' he said.

'On the other hand you have to have understanding for the fact that he had to take a lot of criticism in the run-up to the tournament and has a balancing act between his family and the professional demands on him.

'It won't be easy for him to reach a decision but as players we wish he continues.'

Several other players have already publicly backed their coach.

'Klinsmann is always highly motivated with us. I would be delighted if he decides to continue. He is good for German football,' said captain Michael Ballack.

Defender Jens Nowotny said: 'It would be absolutely the best thing if Juergen continues his work. He has come with a concept that has opened doors in our country which some people here didn't even know existed.'

Defender Christoph Metzelder said even if Klinsmann decided not to renew his contract it was vital for German football 'that his philosophy continues'. The current team 'carries a handwriting, it has profile and quality' thanks to Klinsmann, he said.

Lehmann said despite the players' feelings on the coaching question they would not be approaching Klinsmann directly as it was not something the coach would probably welcome.

'He realizes people are enthusiastic about his methods so we don't need any talk with him as a team to express our desire that he stays on,' he said.

Meanwhile Franz Beckenbauer, president of the World Cup organizing committee, said in Berlin Thursday it was important and proper for Klinsmann to take his time to consider his future.

'He should finish what he's started. But he should not be too influenced by the impressions of the World Cup and reach a decision in all calmness,' Beckenbauer said.

Klinsmann will be taking a holiday in Europe with his family after the World Cup, but the DFB will need a decision in time for Germany's first match after the tournament, a friendly on August 16 against Sweden.

Zwanziger, who is at present sharing the DFB presidency with Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, wants Klinsmann to sign a new contract at least up until the 2008 European Championships.

Meanwhile any negotiations on a new contract are unlikely to fail on financial questions, DFB treasurer Heinrich Schmidhuber said.

Some federation officials have questioned the cost of Klinsmann's tenure as coach, including the expense of his training staff and first-class flights to and from his home in California.

But Schmidhuber told Munich's Abendzeitung daily: 'I never said we have to make savings because of Klinsmann. It is a question of what priorities one sets.'