Bierhoff interested in Bayern manager role

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff has said he is interested in succeeding Uli Hoeness at Bayern Munich, but will focus his attention on helping die Mannschaft reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Hoeness has been Bayern team manager since 1979, but plans to move onto the advisory board next year and Bierhoff said he would like to take over the role one day.

“I would not exclude becoming Bayern manager one day,” said Bierhoff.

In Germany, football teams have both a manager and a coach and a switch to Munich would provide Bierhoff with the chance to work with ex-Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann who took over as Bayern coach last July.

But having been team manager of Germany since 2004, former striker Bierhoff says he is only interested in helping die Mannschaft reach the World Cup finals and is contracted until the summer of 2010.

He said: “I have never said that I concretely want to be a Bayern Munich manager. My job with the DFB (German Football Federation) brings me a lot of joy and satisfaction which I want to continue.”

But Bayern chairman of the board Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is keen to find a replacement for Hoeness in the January winter break.

“The circle for those suitable for the job is not that big,” Rummenigge told Munich newspaper TZ.