Klinsmann resigns

Juergen Klinsmann, who led Germany to a surprise third-place finish in the World Cup and won over the hearts of the nation, said yesterday he was stepping down and assistant Joachim Loew would take his place.

"I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, who pushed us along to this fantastic success," the 41-year-old Klinsmann told a news conference in Frankfurt as he fought back tears.

Klinsmann came under fierce criticism prior to the World Cup, notably for his decisions to commute from his adopted home in California and bring in an American fitness trainer whose modern methods were ridiculed by German soccer traditionalists.

But he silenced the doubters by steering Germany to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual world champions Italy 2-0 after extra-time.

Klinsmann, who had no coaching experience when he took the job in August 2004, said he was leaving because he wanted to spend time with his family in California.

He described himself as "burned out" and said he would take a six-month break before thinking about his next move, denying rumours he might be interested in coaching the US team.

"There is neither interest nor contact," he said.

Klinsmann leaves with a record of 21 wins, seven draws and six defeats in his two years in charge. As a player, he won 108 caps and scored 47 goals, helping West Germany win the World Cup in 1990 and Germany the European Championship in 1996.

Loew, a former midfielder and Bundesliga coach who worked closely with Klinsmann over the past two years, has agreed on a two-year contract to run the team.

The 46-year-old pledged to continue with the philosophy that he and Klinsmann put in place.

"That's the only way we can achieve a lasting place among the very best," Loew said.

Loew has said he gains the most fulfilment from seeing a young player developing into one capable of competing with the very best.

Those skills will serve him well with a team that relies heavily on young players like striker Lukas Podolski and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Loew will lead Germany into a friendly against Sweden on August 16 before their 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign starts in September.

All 23 players in Germany's squad, 93 per cent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of Klinsmann's harshest critics had said they wanted him to continue.

The success of the German team during the World Cup whipped the entire nation into a patriotic feel-good frenzy and the man fans fondly called "Klinsi" was the chief symbol of Germany's new mood.

Why Klinsmann quit...

¤ Klinsmann was always unpredictable and unconventional during his playing career - he almost never stayed anywhere for more than two years and left some clubs, like Tottenham Hotspur, after just one season to move on.

¤ He is close to his family and cherishes his anonymous life in California.

¤ The DFB often clashed with Klinsmann during his two years in charge, challenging his decisions, denying several staff requests and hiring some executive personnel he opposed.

¤ Klinsmann faced constant second-guessing and criticism of his California home base and tactics from newspapers.

¤ He knows it will be hard to duplicate the success he has had in taking Germany to the World Cup semi-finals.

¤ Klinsmann does not need the money.