Germany team manager Rudi Voeller resigned on Thursday after the three-time European champions dropped out of EURO 2004. "After long consideration, I have decided to step down," an emotional Voeller told a press conference in Almancil the day after his
side were eliminated at the group stage following a 2-1 defeat by the Czech Republic.
"I did not take this decision immediately after the match. But I
had thought about stepping down before," he added. Voeller, 44, had said after the match that he wanted to stay on as coach and see out his contract which ran until the 2006 World Cup in his homeland but he opted to step down after reflecting on his team's poor performances. "I would have loved to have guided Germany to the World Cup but I am not the right man," said the former international striker. "I would never cling to my job if results were poor. "My successor now has two years to build a team and I am sure we will have a good side for 2006."
The president of the German football federation, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, said: "We regret this decision but we respect it." Voeller's assistant Michael Skibbe will also leave his post but
stay on as co-ordinator of the youth set-up.
Germany drew two of their matches and lost one in Portugal, scoring just two goals in total and finished third in Group D
behind the Czechs and the Netherlands, who beat Latvia 3-0 on
Thursday to book their place in the quarter-finals. Draws against the Dutch and tournament debutants Latvia left the
Germans needing to beat the already-qualified Czechs to qualify for the last eight.
Voeller took over as coach from Erich Ribbeck following an
unsatsifactory EURO 2000, when Germany failed to win a match, although he was initially only supposed to stay for a year. "The one year turned into four and German football owes a lot to
Voeller," Mayer Vorfelder said. His finest hour came when he guided the Germans to the 2002 World Cup final in which they 2-0 lost to Brazil. "These four years have been great for me," Voller said. "Almost winning the World Cup was a real highlight."
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[bild1]Germany team manager Rudi Voeller resigned on Thursday after the three-time European champions dropped out of EURO 2004. "After long consideration, I have decided to step down," an emotional Voeller told a press conference in Almancil the day after his
side were eliminated at the group stage following a 2-1 defeat by the Czech Republic.
"I did not take this decision immediately after the match. But I
had thought about stepping down before," he added. Voeller, 44, had said after the match that he wanted to stay on as coach and see out his contract which ran until the 2006 World Cup in his homeland but he opted to step down after reflecting on his team's poor performances. "I would have loved to have guided Germany to the World Cup but I am not the right man," said the former international striker. "I would never cling to my job if results were poor. "My successor now has two years to build a team and I am sure we will have a good side for 2006."
The president of the German football federation, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, said: "We regret this decision but we respect it." Voeller's assistant Michael Skibbe will also leave his post but
stay on as co-ordinator of the youth set-up.
Germany drew two of their matches and lost one in Portugal, scoring just two goals in total and finished third in Group D
behind the Czechs and the Netherlands, who beat Latvia 3-0 on
Thursday to book their place in the quarter-finals. Draws against the Dutch and tournament debutants Latvia left the
Germans needing to beat the already-qualified Czechs to qualify for the last eight.
Voeller took over as coach from Erich Ribbeck following an
unsatsifactory EURO 2000, when Germany failed to win a match, although he was initially only supposed to stay for a year. "The one year turned into four and German football owes a lot to
Voeller," Mayer Vorfelder said. His finest hour came when he guided the Germans to the 2002 World Cup final in which they 2-0 lost to Brazil. "These four years have been great for me," Voller said. "Almost winning the World Cup was a real highlight."
