Daum declines German job

Christoph Daum doesn't want to succeed Erich Ribbeck

Bayer Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum has ruled himself out of contention to succeed Erich Ribbeck as Germany coach.

The post is vacant following the departure of Ribbeck who resigned after Germany crashed out of Euro 2000, drawing with Romania and losing to both England and Portugal.

Writing in his column for Kicker magazine, Daum said: "I say here and now: Christoph Daum is not available for the position of national trainer. That eliminates me from this discussion."

Daum, 46, emerged as a front-runner for the job even before his country's humiliating Euro 2000 exit.

Dual role

He had hinted that he might play a dual role, coaching for both club and country until his contract with Bayer Leverkusen runs out next year.

But Leverkusen's management have refused to accept any compromise which would mean sharing the coach who led the club to within an ace of the Bundesliga title, ensuring another season of Champions League action.

"I have a contract in Leverkusen until 2001, and I fully intend to honour it," Daum wrote.

The once-prestigious role of national coach has proved hard to fill in Germany ever since the resignation of Berti Vogts, with Ribbeck only given the job in 1998 after higher-profile candidates had turned it down.