"Is not controllable"

Scholl: “Then you just have to force Lothar!”

Mehmet Scholl (left), Lothar Matthäus

(Bild: APA/AFP/MICHAELA STACHE, GEPA)

Mehmet Scholl is not impressed by the fact that Lothar Matthäus has repeatedly declared that he no longer wants to be a coach. "Then you just have to force him," he said during a TV appearance on "Bild". Force him to do what? That's right, to become Bayern coach.

Just last week, Lothar had explained quite profusely on ServusTV that the subject of a coaching comeback has been shelved for him. Too busy a schedule, other life plans, time with his young son is his priority. However, this has not put an end to the custom of bringing him into play as Bayern coach. At least not in the person of Mehmet Scholl. The former top-flight goalkeeper and Matthäus teammate raved about Lothar to legendary reporter Marcel Reif and his video blog on Bild.

"Players follow a man like that"
Scholl in the original quote: "I learned an incredible amount from him, he was by far my best teammate, he can't lose, he knows this club like the back of his hand, he's also made a great development. (...) What he says is right. And the players will follow a man like that."

In response to Reif's objection that "he doesn't want to be coach anymore", Scholl paused briefly and then countered: "Then you just have to force him."

"Not controllable"
But why the top Bayern bosses Hoeneß and Rummenigge don't have Matthäus on their radar (at least that's the rumor)? "I can't say whether that's the case. But Lothar's biggest problem is probably that he has a mind of his own, has an attitude and can't be controlled. Which I think is a very good thing."

In fact, the search for a coach at Bayern seems to be proving to be a tough one. According to the latest media reports, it is Zinedine Zidane who the Munich club are after after all. But perhaps Lothar Matthäus will reconsider his decision if the search drags on - and experts such as Mehmet Scholl continue to bring him loudly into play."