Matthaeus says signed deal to coach Brazil's Paranaense

Former Hungary coach Lothar Matthaeus said he has signed a one-year contract to train Brazilian team Atletico Paranaense, his fourth job in less than five years.

"I am looking forward to getting back to working every day with a team," West Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning captain said.

Matthaeus, officially out of contract with Hungary from last month, steered the Hungarians to 13 wins and three draws in 29 matches since December 2003 and failed to help them reach the 2006 World Cup finals in his home country.

"He has signed for Paranaense," said a member of Matthaeus's Hungarian national team management in Budapest, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Matthaeus, 44, has had three different jobs since retiring as a player five years ago with brief stops at Rapid Vienna and Partizan Belgrade.

While in Budapest, Matthaeus applied for the vacant manager's job at Scottish Premier League club Hearts in June and was also unsuccessful trying for PAOK Salonika in September.

Bundesliga side Nuremberg had a vacancy late last year but fans launched anti-Matthaeus protests that helped to ditch any deal with the club near his home town of Herzogenaurach.

Matthaeus, widely unpopular in Germany, was passed over for the Germany job after Rudi Voeller quit in 2004, despite his intensive lobbying efforts.

Germany told Matthaeus he did not have enough coaching experience but then picked Juergen Klinsmann, who had none at all.

"There are a lot of clubs that would like to sign me but they are afraid because my name polarises and because some people distrust me," said Matthaeus.