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Matthaus hungry for new challenge with Greek club PAOK Salonika [Wed Sep 21st, 2005]
Munich, Germany (AFP) - West Germany's 1990 World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus, currently coach of the Hungarian national team, admitted that he was on the brink of returning to club management with Greek side PAOK Salonika.
PAOK sacked coach Nikos Karageorgiou last week and Matthaus, capped a record 150 times by Germany, is expected to be named his successor.
"The negotiations with PAOK are advanced but there are still a few details to be ironed out," Matthaus told German sports agency SID. "A decision will be made within the next seven to ten days."
The 44-year-old said he would step down if Hungary failed to reach the 2006 World Cup and that has happened with several qualifying matches still remaining.
Hungarian football chiefs and fans have begged Matthaus to stay on, but the former Bayern Munich star seems set for a new challenge in Greece.
It would be a third spell in club football for Matthaus, who started his managerial career at Rapid Vienna before joining Partizan Belgrade.
Matthaus guided the Serbia and Montenegro outfit into the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, but resigned in December 2003 citing personal reasons.
However, he was quickly back into management, reaching an agreement in January 2004 to coach the Hungarian national side.
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