Augenthaler agrees to stay on

The Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Klaus Augenthaler has extended his contract by a further season until 2006 ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Champions League first knockout round match against Liverpool FC.

Relegation avoided
BayArena officials appointed Augenthaler in May 2003 after previous incumbent Thomas Hörster was sacked for publicly stating that he had "no hope" in the club's ability to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. Augenthaler kept Leverkusen up and a third-placed finish followed last season to ensure a return to the Champions League this term for the 2002 runners-up.

Approval
Executive director Wolfgang Holzhäuser called the 47-year-old "the best man for the job", adding: "Our talks came to a conclusion very quickly. We like the relaxed way he coaches the team and goes about his business." Augenthaler, a former German international defender, said: "All I had to do was to phone my wife once and the deal was set." Liverpool won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield.