Matthaeus to coach Israeli side
BERLIN, Germany (AP) — Former Germany star Lothar Matthaeus has signed a two-year contract to coach Israeli club Maccabi Netanya.
Maccabi board member Andreas Stamatiou said on Saturday that the 47-year-old Matthaeus will take over in mid-June.
The much-traveled Matthaeus’s previous stops include coaching Hungary, Salzburg and Atletico Paranaense.
I hope this will bring about a positive development in German-Israel relations, Stamatiou said.
And that Matthaeus can help the club take some steps forward in the next two years.
Maccabi lie second in the Israeli league, but well behind leader Beitar Jerusalem.
Matthaeus has been trying to establish himself as a top coach after an outstanding playing career.
He is currently trying to earn his FIFA pro license in Germany because the job requires passing an exam.
He captained Germany’s 1990 World Cup-winning team, was FIFA player of the year in 1991, and appeared in a record 150 internationals for his country. E-mail to a friend
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