Scotland gets its man

Former German coach Vogts takes charge

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- Scotland followed England's lead Wednesday and appointed a foreigner as coach of its national soccer team.

Now, can former Germany coach Berti Vogts do for the Scots what Sweden's Sven-Goran Eriksson has done for the English?

The Scottish Football Association announced that Vogts was being released from his contract as coach of Kuwait and would take over the Scotland side on March 1.

The announcement came after SFA chief executive David Taylor held meetings in Kuwait with officials of the Kuwaiti Football Association.

Under the deal, the Kuwaitis agreed to terminate Vogts' contract on Feb. 28. Vogts' one-year contract had been scheduled to last until August.

Vogts, 55, succeeds Craig Brown, who stepped down as Scotland manager four months ago after the team failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup finals.

Vogts, who guided Germany to the Euro 1996 title in England, had been Scotland's top choice all along. He will take charge for Scotland's friendly against France on March 27.

"I am delighted that our negotiations to secure Berti Vogts for Scotland have gone so well and that we have reached the end of a long road," Taylor said in a statement on the SFA's official Web site.

"I would also like to thank the Kuwait FA for their help and cooperation. Berti will begin work with us on March 1, which means he will be able to prepare fully for Scotland's match against France on March 27, but before that he will join us for the important Euro 2004 dates planning meeting in Frankfurt next week."

Taylor said he would return to Scotland with Vogts and hold a news conference at Hampden Park on Friday morning.

Vogts becomes the first non-Briton to coach Scotland. Last year, Eriksson became England's first foreign coach, and he responded by guiding the team from last to first in its World Cup qualifying group.

Vogts was severely criticized in Kuwait after the team's third-place finish in last month's Gulf Cup tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But Brown said the German was the right choice as his successor.

"I'm sure the Tartan Army will be pleased that a manager is in place, particularly one with as good a track record as Berti has," he said. "He's got the track record of success both as a player and a coach. He's got the nucleus of a very good side. We were extremely unfortunate to fail in the last two major tournaments. I think Berti will shape them up."

Vogts made his name as a player with Borussia Monchengladbach, where he earned the nickname "the terrier" for his tenacious style of play. He also had 96 caps for Germany.

As Germany coach, he was feted after the Euro 96 triumph but resigned in 1998 after the team's disappointing showing at the World Cup in France.

Vogts took over as coach of Bayer Leverkusen in 2000 but quit last year amid player dissension.

 

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