Frankfurt - Lothar Matthaeus can officially call himself a football coach after obtaining the necessary licence on Friday in his native Germany. Matthaeus, 47, passed the final test after a special three-month course only for him, conducted by Erich Rutemoeller from the German Football Federation (DFB).
"Of course I am delighted. It was an extraordinary situation to be taught on my own over nearly three months," said Matthaeus.
The German licence is necessary for Matthaeus to coach in the German Bundesliga.
Matthaeus has coached abroad before since 2001, in Austria, Serbia and the Hungarian national team. His next club is Israel's Maccabi Netanja, on two-year contract from June onwards.
Matthaeus is Germany's record-capped player with 150 matches, captaining Germany to its third World Cup title in 1990. He played club football for Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and the New York New Jersey MetroStars.
