Berlin: Former international player Matthias Sammer was named technical director of the national team by the German football federation (DFB) on Wednesday after being preferred over Germany's hockey coach.
Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann had caused surprise by expressing his preference for Bernhard Peters, who led the German team to the field hockey world title in 2002, for the role.
But the DFB appointed Sammer, who led Germany to the Euro 96 title as a player and who has coached Bundesliga clubs VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund, to a five-year contract.
Sammer, 38, will start work in April, two months before the World Cup finals kick off in Germany.
Klinsmann did not hide his disappointment at the decision to turn down his radical proposal to bring in a man who is credited with being an influential motivator.
"It is disappointing that our concept with Bernhard Peters was not accommodated. Instead of discussing the content, they have only discussed the personalities," Klinsmann said.
"We will swallow this pill and only concern ourselves with sporting matters related to the World Cup."
However, the DFB did not rule out a role within the coaching structure for Peters.
"Between now and October 1, the DFB will propose to Bernhard Peters that he uses his know-how and the knowledge he has gained at the elite of a different sport," it said in a statement.
DFB President Theo Zwanziger said he was delighted with the choice of Sammer, an uncompromising defender in his playing days who was named European Footballer of the Year in 1996.
"With him we have not only a personality who comes from the world of football, but also one who stands for innovation. In our discussions I can sense the hunger he has for this job," Zwanziger said.
Sammer won 23 caps for East Germany and 51 for the unified country. The 2006 World Cup finals begin on June 9 with the final on July 9.
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