Matthäus quits Partizan for Hungary
Monday, December 15, 2003
Article summary
Lothar Matthäus has announced his resignation as coach of FK Partizan to take charge of Hungary.
Article body
'Personal and final'
The former German international had a contract until June 2005 with Partizan but announced his decision after his side had recorded a 1-0 victory at FK Železnik on Saturday. He said in a brief statement: "This is my personal and final decision."
'Teachers of Europe'
Matthäus has signed an 18-month deal with the Hungarian Football Federation, whose president Imre Bozóky said: "Hungary were the teachers of Europe before the 1950s - now it is time to ask them to teach us."
Partizan surprised
Partizan director Nenad Bjekovic revealed Matthäus's decision had caught the club unawares, saying: "I'm suprised. We thought he was happy with us, and we had a plan for the future. Now we must try to find a good solution."
European disappointment
The Serbo-Montenegrin champions were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, finishing bottom of Group F, and were knocked out of European competition entirely as Olympique de Marseille secured a 1-1 draw in Belgrade to claim the section's UEFA Cup place. Domestically, Partizan lie second in the Prva Savezna Liga at the halfway stage, three points behind leaders FK Crvena Zvezda.
