Matthäus to leave Maccabi Netanya at end of season

German manager Lothar Matthäus will have to leave Maccabi Netanya at the end of this season. The Israeli club is in financial trouble and no longer able to afford the coach.

“Maccabi Netanya proposed to terminate our contact, which was set to end in 2010, as result of the economic recession. I agreed. It’s a shame because I would have liked to stay longer,” Matthäus commented.

The former midfielder and World Cup winner joined Maccabi at the start of the season after being without a club for almost one year. In 2007, the German was fired from Red Bull Salzburg despite co-leading the team to the Austrian title.

Maccabi are currently in fourth position in the Israel Ligat Al, nine points behind leaders Maccabi Haifa.