The heart says Partizan, but the mind says Hannover. The renowned German football coach Lothar Matthaus is at a crossroads, judging by the claims from German and Austrian media.
The press in Germany are speculating Partizan boss Jokanovic is close to being sacked as the Serbian champions’ coach, after a disappointing Champions League qualifying campaign which ended in aggregate defeat to APOEL. They argue his successor could easily become former Partizan boss Matthaus. However, one key obstacle in the German’s aim to rejoin the Belgrade side is a potential offer from Bundesliga side Hannover 96.
Partizan’s key argument in trying to lure Matthaus back to Belgrade could be fine memories and friendships the German made when he took Partizan to the Champions League group stage in 2003. However, the professional challenge of leading a German team could prove to be too much of a deterrent, as Matthaus has already said his desire was to once become a Bundesliga side coach. Matthaus has not returned calls from Blic and is currently away in the USA.
A website from Hannover claim Matthaus met with Hannover 96 technical manager Jorg Schmatke at an airport. With the German club losing the Bundesliga opening game to Hertha and previously being knocked out of the German Cup by fourth-division side Eintracht Trier, discontent in mounting within the club and manager Dieter Hecking’s job in hanging in the balance.
- “There was nothing in the conversation between Schmatke and Matthaus, especially not any talk about a new coach. We are not looking for a new coach and we’re looking ahead to the game against Mainz,” said Hannover press agent
Andreas Kunt.
After departing the Belgrade club, Matthaus has been an occasional visitor to Belgrade. Nearly two years ago his return was an option, when Miroslav Djukic left the Partizan coaching post. Despite Matthaus being spotted at Partizan at the times of managerial transition, it was Slavisa Jokanovic who eventually got the hot seat job.
Now, two years on, Matthaus is being linked with Partizan, at the time when both the club and the fans have grown impatient and disappointed.
Despite a buoyant pre-season atmosphere at the club, Partizan offered disastrously poor performances in the Champions League qualifiers against Cyprus team APOEL, and the ice underneath Jokanovic’s feet is wearing thin. Partizan have been left without a chance to play top European club football and €7m worth of prize money from UEFA, and someone will have to take the fall for it. Jokanovic himself admitted it is the coach who should accept the responsibility after the first-leg 2-0 defeat to APOEL. A new man to succeed Jokanovic is already being gossiped about, while Goran Stevanovic and Zvonko Varga are amongst the ones linked with the Partizan managerial post. Partizan have broken off communication with the media, which can only be interpreted as a calm before the storm.
