Munich - Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann has called for former Germany defender Markus Babbel to be allowed to obtain his coaching badge on a special coaching course. Klinsmann said an exception should be made for 36-year-old Babbel, a former Germany and Bayern Munich team-mate who has taken over as coach of VfB Stuttgart.
Under German football federation (DFB) rules, Babbel would next year have to take its official training course before being allowed to coach a Bundesliga side.
He was appointed interim coach of Stuttgart last month after the sacking of Armin Veh, and has now been promoted to the job full-time until the end of the season.
However he carries the temporary title of "team chief", and would have to start a 10-month course at the end of the season to qualify for his official badge.
Klinsmann, whose Munich team travel to Stuttgart Saturday on the season's last weekend before the winter break, said Babbel should benefit from a special rule which used to apply to top internationals who had appeared at World Cups or European championships.
Klinsmann himself benefited from a special crash course, while former captain Lothar Matthaeus was given a shortened individual course at the beginning of the year.
Klinsmann said a similar concept should also be developed for Babbel, a member of Germany's 1996 European Championship-winning side.
As with Matthaeus, Babbel had been unable to take part on the previous DFB coaching courses because he had been an active player until recently.
"I am really delighted that he is getting this opportunity at VfB Stuttgart," he said.
"We played for several years together in the national team and at Bayern Munich. He is a great character, a guy who has both feet on the ground."
Klinsmann's trip to Stuttgart on Saturday is a special one for the former Stuttgart Kickers and VfB Stuttgart player, who hails from nearby.
"Of course, it's a special game because the family live there," he said.
Klinsmann can call again on Brazilians Lucio (flu) in defence and Ze Roberto (muscular problems) in midfield in Bayern's bid to end the year top of the Bundesliga for the first time this season.
Striker Lukas Podolski is still out with a back problem, while defender Christian Lell is a doubt with a stomach virus.
Stuttgart will make a late decision on striker Mario Gomez who has not been able to train fully following a slight calf muscle tear nearly two weeks ago.
