Bayer hires Jürgen Kohler as sporting director

[olafgb]

Otto Rehhagel was discussed, but a mixture of nice life in Greece, criticism by the Bayer AG and the knowledge that this would just be a short termed solution stopped these plans.

Bernd Schuster got himself into discussion, but he is still under contract in Xerex and nobody knows his managing abilities.

Ulf Kirsten was discussed as internal solution, but he will be assistant coach from the next season on.

Nobody discussed Jürgen Kohler, but he will be Bayer's new sporting director from Monday on until 2007. Kohler was U21 National Coach after he retired from his active career this summer. On Tuesday Bayer asked DFB to get Kohler out of his contract and DFB agreed in return for getting the permit for Rudi Völler after the Daum affair.

[panicfc]

I like this move. He wants to be on the coaching side, and he has to be better with the media than Horster.

Your thoughts?

[olafgb]

I can imagine that Kohler will be Hörster's successor in July, but I don't hope that. Kohler's coaching style with the U21 was too defensive for me and this would not be well liked in Leverkusen. I like him on the sporting director position as Rudi Völler did under Christoph Daum, i.e. being the first contact person for the players, he's got the standing for that also to attract international players, and he's the mediator between players and management. Kohler is a perfect fit for this position, but hopefully he will stay there and not become coach.

[panicfc]

Makes sense he was a defensive coach, and also makes sense that Bayer will want a more attacking coach.

I don't see him taking the reigns, I think they will look for someone more attacking as well - but having Kohler will help bring in some good talent.

Maybe even Landon Donovan :P