Klinsmann takes over as Germany coach

JURGEN KLINSMANN has been named new coach of the German national team.

As expected Klinsmann will be joined by two assistants in a three-man team with former Germany striker Oliver Bierhoff and Holger Osieck.

Bierhoff will be the fitness coach while Osieck will have a general manager’s role, and the trio will now be charged with leading the host nation in the 2006 World Cup.

Klinsmann will pick the team.

Klinsmann succeeds his former strike partner Rudi Voller - the two were members of the West Germany team that won the 1990 World Cup.

Voller, who led Germany to the 2002 World Cup final where they lost to Brazil, stood down after Germany failed to progress beyond the group stage of Euro 2004.

Klinsmann, who lives in New York, is believed to have been influenced by American ideas on coaching where responsibility is shared by several coaches working under a head coach.