Matthäus and Rapid settle up

A claim of unfair dismissal and lost earnings brought by Lothar Matthäus against his former Austrian Bundesliga employers SK Rapid Wien has been settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, lawyers for the two parties said on Thursday.

Matthäus sacking
Matthäus, Germany's FIFA World Cup-winning former captain, was fired from his coaching post at Rapid in May after a season in which the club slipped to the lowest league position in their 103-year history.

Magazine comments
Matthäus, capped 150 times, was initially suspended and then dismissed on account of comments made in a magazine interview in which he referred to the club, Austrian champions 30 times, as a "snake-pit". Matthäus apologised for his comments in a written statement that was read in the lawyers' news conference.

Statement details
"In order to set aside any differences with Rapid Vienna, and to establish a good working relationship with the club, Lothar Matthäus admits that his statements...went beyond the expression of a critical opinion, and he hereby retracts them with his apologies," the statement said.

First coaching position
Matthäus' appointment at Rapid was his first coaching position since retiring as a player at the end of 2000. He was sacked six months into his two-year contract and is yet to assume another coaching position.