No World Cup role for ´Klinsi´, insists Bierhoff

Ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann is still a source of advice for the German team, but manager Oliver Bierhoff on Wednesday downplayed speculation ‘Klinsi’ is set for an official role at the next World Cup.

With Germany set to face 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Leverkusen on Saturday, team manager Bierhoff said Klinsmann still has regular contact with the national team and head coach Joachim Loew.

Germany are top of Group Four and set to guarantee themselves a place at next summer’s World Cup if they beat Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9 and then group-rivals Russia in Moscow on October 10.

But while Bierhoff says Klinsmann’s opinion is still highly regarded, the team manager brushed off any speculation the former national coach could be involved again in an official capacity.

“We still have very, very close links with Jurgen. We are always pleased to hear his views and use his footballing experience,” revealed Bierhoff.

“Jurgen is not tied to any club at the moment and therefore he can judge things more objectively.

“Just like in previous times, he is still an important contact and someone for us to bounce ideas off.

“(But any speculation) is a dead duck. We will have no official co-operation with Jurgen Klinsmann.

“We don’t think there is a way of merging him with the national team or giving him a coaching role.”

Klinsmann was head coach of the Germany team in 2006 with current trainer Joachim Loew as his assistant and Bierhoff as team manager when the side finished third.

And German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger also put the brakes on any speculation Klinsmann could return in an official role.

“The opinion of Jurgen Klinsmann was and still is important to us,” said Zwanziger.

“He showed he is able to forge and motivate a successful side and he is still highly appreciated here by the DFB.

“But Joachim Loew is the coach of the national side and he is the boss.

“The coach of the national team does not need an advisor.”

Klinsmann has recently moved his family back from the United States to Munich with his children set to start the new school year this month.

The 45-year-old was sacked as Bayern Munich coach in April after a poor run of results in his first role as a domestic coach after just ten months in charge of the German giants.