Sammer extends Dortmund stay

Matthias Sammer has signed a three-year extension to his contract as BV Borussia Dortmund coach.

UEFA Cup hopefuls
The former Germany defender took charge of the 1. Bundesliga club in July 2000 and has led the 1997 UEFA Champions League winners to second place in the domestic table at the winter break. Dortmund are also going well in the UEFA Cup.

'Tremendous respect'
"We have tremendous respect for Matthias Sammer's work and are delighted that we can plan a long-term future with him," Dortmund president Gerd Niebaum said on Thursday. In his first season at the club, Sammer took the Westfalenstadion outfit to third in the table, instantly winning over the fans who had seen their team narrowly avoid relegation the previous year.

Key player
Sammer, who made 115 appearances for Dortmund before injury ended his career, was a leading player in Germany's national side during the 1990s, playing a key role in the EURO 96™ victory.

LOSC test
Dortmund will face French club Lille OSC, another team eliminated from the Champions League, in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup in February. Should they progress they will meet either Olympique Lyonnais or FC Slovan Liberec in the quarter-finals.