Sammer leaves Dortmund
ByReuters
Published 30/05/2004 at 16:59 GMT
An era ended for Borussia Dortmund on Sunday when the club announced they were parting company with coach Matthias Sammer. The former Germany defender had been at the club since 1993 and was a playing member of the Dortmund side who lifted the European Cu
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The 36-year-old became the Dortmund coach in 2000 and guided the Ruhr Valley club to the Bundesliga title in 2002.
Sammer, born in East Germany, is paying the price for a disappointing season, Dortmund having finished sixth in the Bundesliga, narrowly missing out on a UEFA Cup spot.
Sammer, who had a contract for another two years, is now the favourite to take over from Felix Magath at VfB Stuttgart. Magath is moving on to Bayern Munich, replacing Ottmar Hitzfeld.
"Together we came to the decision that a separation is the best solution at this point in time, even if it is hard to take for all concerned," Dortmund president Gerd Niebaum said in a statement.
"We had open and fair talks and decided together to end the contract. A change at Dortmund will create a new atmosphere and will help the team get on to a calmer sporting tack."
Dortmund, who are facing severe financial difficulties, are expected to have to sell some of their players.
The club said they would likely name a successor for Sammer this week. Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, whose contract at Feyenoord runs out at the end of the season, is among the favourites or the job.
Bayern's traditional rivals, Dortmund have won six German titles. The club from a grey city in Germany's depressed industrial heartland have the most faithful fans in the country. Over 80,000 often pack the Westfalen stadium, the largest arena in Germany, for league games
A fine libero in the great German tradition in his playing days, Sammer won 23 caps for East Germany and 51 for Germany. He was a member of Germany's 1996 European championship-winning team and played for Dynamo Dresden, VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
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