Most Germans want Matthaeus to become Iran's football coach: TV poll

IRNA – More than 60 percent of Germans want former German nation team captain Lothar Matthaeus to become the next coach of the Iranian national football squad, according to a survey released Thursday by the private German SAT 1 broadcasting network.

Asked whether Matthaeus should take up Iran's football coaching post, 60.9 percent of those questioned said 'yes, while 19.6 percent responded negatively and 19.5 percent said they did not know.

Matthaeus said Wednesday he had no contact with the Iranian Football Federation to fill the national team coaching job, according to news reports.

Although he had not yet been contacted, Matthaeus stressed his readiness to hold talks with Iranian football officials on the head coaching position.

"I have heard of this report but I can't add anything to it since there has been no personal contact yet. However, I am basically ready to listen to everything," added Germany's record capped national football team player.

Matthaeus whose coaching resume includes the Hungarian national team, Austria Salzburg, Partizan Belgrade and Rapid Vienna, is reportedly joined by two other German candidates, Christoph Daum and Peter Neururer, for the Iran coaching job.