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`Burned out' Klinsmann resigns

Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to a third-place finish at the World Cup, stepped down yesterday and was replaced by his assistant, Joachim Loew.

Klinsmann told reporters he was leaving to spend more time with his California-based family.

"I feel burned out," said a tearful Klinsmann, adding that he would take a six-month vacation.

"I have a great wish to be back with my family and my children," he said.

Loew, 46, worked with Klinsmann for his two years as coach.

"He was never an assistant; he was a partner, who had his own areas of responsibility," Klinsmann said.

Loew's two-year deal runs through the 2008 European Championship, co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.

"Our goal is to be European champion," Loew said.

Klinsmann's rejuvenated team finished higher than expected, losing only to eventual champion Italy in the semifinals. The team's attacking, entertaining style triggered a wave of euphoria in Germany and played a major role in the World Cup being a huge success.

Loew promised to keep the same style of play.

"We are deeply convinced that we have established ourselves in the top of world soccer again. We have a young team that can only improve," he said.

Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as a player in 1990, was feted when the team said farewell to its fans in Berlin on Sunday, just hours before Italy beat France on penalties to win its fourth title.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Franz Beckenbauer, Germany's most influential soccer personality and World Cup organizing committee chief, had both urged Klinsmann to stay, along with the entire team and its captain, Michael Ballack.

Klinsmann did not watch Sunday's final and went to a Black Forest resort for two days to think things over and consult with his American wife, Debbie.

"She told me it was my decision, but I told her that I didn't have the energy," Klinsmann said.

"My decision wouldn't have been different even if we had won the World Cup title," he said.

Klinsmann never gave up his home in California, and his commute to Germany was a main source of friction between him and the soccer establishment.

With qualifying for the European Championship looming, Klinsmann would have been required to spend a lot more time in Germany.

"It would have been much more difficult," he said.

Klinsmann dismissed reports that he had been approached to take over the US national team.

"There is absolutely no interest on my side and no contact," he said.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi resigned yesterday, three days after guiding the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title.

Despite widespread calls for him to stay, Lippi suggested weeks ago that he would resign. He feels he and his son, Davide, were attacked personally in the corruption scandal tainting the domestic game.

"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience, experienced as the head of an exceptional group of players ... I believe my role is over as the guide of the Italian national team," Lippi said in a statement.

While he is not under investigation, Lippi was questioned by prosecutors before the World Cup about alleged pressure he received to select certain players for Italy's national team. Davide Lippi is under investigation for his work at player agency GEA World.

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