Bayern’s luminaries, including “Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer himself, are accusing Daum of whoring, snorting cocaine and cavorting with criminal elements. Daum is suing for libel, but even if he should win the case, mud sticks. The controversy is certain to end the gentlemen’s agreement which anointed him national coach from next summer.Which leaves Völler, formerly Daum’s assistant at Bayer Leverkusen, in charge indefinitely, if he wants the job. By the evidence on show yesterday, Germany have reg-ained the habit of appointing the right person. Admittedly, this time method had nothing to do with the decision It was sheer fluke..

The England football coach, Kevin Keegan, shocked his players as well as the fans last night by resigning after his team’s dismal performance against Germany in the opening match of the campaign to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. The England football coach, Kevin Keegan, shocked his players as well as the fans last night by resigning after his team’s dismal performance against Germany in the opening match of the campaign to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
Supporters were making their way home in the rain from the last-ever game at Wembley Stadium when the man once hailed as the people’s choice to manage England emerged from the dressing room and announced he was finished.His timing was surprising, with the England camp due to travel to Helsinki for another qualifier against Finland on Wednesday night. But the 1-0 defeat against traditional rivals Germany had brought back memories of England’s chronic under-achievement in Euro 2000 over the summer As he left the sodden pitch, Keegan looked miserable. Moments later, he declared his intention to walk away from football completely.Keegan refused to criticise either the players or the press, with whom a succession of England managers before him had fallen out “It was 1,000 per cent my decision,” Keegan said “Please don’t think anyone has put a gun to my head I have always been a man who knows when the time is right.

I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”The former coach, Terry Venables, was immediately installed as 4-1 favourite to regain his old job. The Leicester manager, Peter Taylor, was 6-1, with Arsenal’s French coach, Arsene Wenger, at 12-1. England’s technical director, Howard Wilkinson, is expected to act as caretaker on Wednesday, as he has already done once before.Keegan denied rumours that he had fallen out with Wilkinson. “I have had all the help I have needed to do my job properly,” he said, “but I’ve not been quite good enough.”The chief executive of the FA, Adam Crozier, insisted that Keegan had been a terrific manager who retained the support of a close-knit squad of players “I admire him very much as a man He has shown great dignity at all times.

We tried very hard to persuade him to stay on, even if only for Wednesday.”The coach himself was adamant “I felt I would be doing it for all the wrong reasons. I know it’s not great timing but there’s never a good time.” He became the third England coach in the last five years to leave the job after losing a match to Germany.Alan Shearer, who resigned as Keegan’s captain after Euro 2000, said he was “amazed” by the timing but understood Keegan’s reasons for going. The England team had not performed to the expected standards over the summer, or on Saturday afternoon “He’s hurt and he’s very disappointed As players, we failed. We let him down and let our country down.”Those fans who lingered outside Wembley shared the surprise. “I am not very happy about it,” said Laurie Deimel, 23, from Studley, Warwickshire.