Official gossip news thread

fanOfBayern

My vote for Toni..
Klose comes a close second..

FC Bajern

It is being reported that Bayern trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld has a second option in mind should he leave the Bundesliga side- the Swiss national job.

“I’ve thought about it, and have to come to a conclusion. There are two options for me: Bayern Munich or the Swiss national team” the 58 year old Swiss tabloid ‘Blick’.

Hitzfeld’s readiness to succeed Kobi Kuhn has been received positively by the Swiss Football Federation. “I’m personally delighted that an experienced coach like Ottmar Hitzfeld would show interest in the Swiss national team” admitted FA President Ralph Zloczower.

Ernst Lämmli, a delegate with the FA explained, “It’s fantastic if Ottmar has such an idea.”

A decision upon the successor to Kobi Kuhn will be taken in February or March next year after the Euro 2008 Championships in Austria/ Switzerland. Kuhn has decided not to extend his current contract.

Alongside Hitzfeld, Kuhns’s assistant Michel Pont, and FC Basel trainer Christian Gross are expected to be in the frame.

Hitzfeld returned to Munich in February of this year succeeding Felix Magath at the Allianz Arena for his second spell in charge at the club.

‘The General’ has already coached in Switzerland with spells at Grasshopper Zürich, FC Aarau and SC Zug. He also appeared for FC Basel, FC Lugano and FC Lucern as a player.

Hitzfeld owns a second home in the ski resort of Engelberg, and is current building a new home in his birthplace of Lörrach on the Swiss border.

tracylynn

10-20-2007
Bayern look to retain Hitzfeld

Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness said on Saturday he hopes coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will sign a contract extension over the winter break to stay at the German giants for another season.

Hitzfeld, who has won the Champions League with both Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, has expressed interest in coaching the Swiss national team after next summer's Euro 2008 tournament with his contract in Munich set to expire in June.

But Bayern, who went six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to Saturday's 2-1 win at VfL Bochum, are keen to extend the 58-year-old's contract with his unbeaten side picking up their eighth win of the season.

'I am hoping we can announce Hitzfeld will stay with us after January's winter break,' Hoeness told German satellite channel Premiere.

Hitzfeld has always said he wants to talk to Bayern's management before he considers coaching any other side, but is interested in taking over from Swiss coach Jakob Kuhn after next summer's European Championships.

FC Bajern

Germany coach Joachim Löw has extended his contract by two years until 2010, with the aim of leading his team in that summer's FIFA World Cup in South Africa following their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign next June.

Qualification assured
Löw, 47, took charge after the 2006 World Cup having previously assisted Jürgen Klinsmann in finishing third on home soil. Under Löw's guidance, Germany became the first team to earn qualification for UEFA EURO 2008™ this month alongside hosts Austria and Switzerland. The German Football Association (DFB) has also handed new deals to assistant Hans-Dieter Flick, goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke and head scout Urs Siegenthaler. Women's coach Silvia Neid has also added two years to her recently-signed contract extension, taking her up to 2013.

'Really delighted'
Löw said: "I'm really delighted that I can continue the progress I have made with my team in the coming years." DFB president Theo Zwanziger - also celebrating his re-election into his role for another term until 2010 - said: "The contract extension for Joachim Löw is a clear signal that we are heading towards EURO 2008™ and the 2010 World Cup with confidence in his philosophy."

uefa.com

MUTU

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) — Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski, voted the best young player at last year's World Cup, is set to become a father for the first time.

The 22-year-old, who has scored 24 international goals in 44 appearances for Germany, is expecting a child with long-time girlfriend Monika Puchalski, 21.

The pair met in Poland when they were 17 and Puchalski's twin brother told German on-line magazine Bunte he is looking forward to next year's birth.

"I am really looking forward to being an uncle," said Lukas Puchalski.