Trapattoni back in Germany as Stuttgart coach

Giovanni Trapattoni, one of the most successful managers in football, will succeed Matthias Sammer as coach of VfB Stuttgart next season, the Bundesliga club said yesterday.

The 66-year-old former Italy coach has signed a two-year contract with Stuttgart. It will be his third spell in Germany, after twice being in charge at Bayern Munich.

Trapattoni stepped down as Benfica coach at the end of May after steering them to their first Portuguese championship in 11 years.

He said then that he wanted to return to Italy to be with his family, although Stuttgart, in southern Germany, is at least a manageable drive to the Italian border.

"Habemus Mister," announced Stuttgart president Erwin Staudt, an echo of the announcement made to unveil a new pope.

"With Giovanni Trapattoni we have signed the world's most successful club coach, a man of leadership, respect and a clear imprint," he added.

Staudt said the club and Trapattoni had agreed the move in principle last Sunday but the coach wanted time to discuss it with his wife.

Trapattoni said she felt he loved football more than her.

"I told my wife I would take her on holiday for eight days by way of compensation," he told a news conference.

Trapattoni brings with him a phenomenal record of success. The Portuguese championship was his ninth league title in a long career with several European clubs, including six Serie A titles with Juventus. He has won three UEFA Cups, a Cup Winners' Cup and secured Juventus's first European Cup triumph in 1985.

As a defender with Milan he won the European Cup in 1963 and 1969 and two Serie A titles.