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Lotharmania! German legend greeted by throng reminiscent of Pele
Posted: Saturday March 11, 2000 11:45 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- German international Lothar Matthaeus arrived in the United States on Friday to start his career with the New York-New Jersey MetroStars, overwhelmed by a crush of reporters and television cameras that reminded some of Pele's introduction to America 25 years ago. "I hope to have many successful years with the MetroStars as I had with Bayern," Matthaeus told a room of about 100 journalists at Giants Stadium, home of the MetroStars. His arrival at Newark International Airport was subdued. Only three children from a local German school with a sign in German that read "Welcome Lothar Matthaeus" along with one television crew and a handful of photographers were on hand to greet Matthaeus, who was quickly whisked away from the arrivals terminal by MetroStars officials to a press conference at Giants Stadium. But in the press box there, television cameramen, photographers and other reporters jockeyed with each other for position. The frenzy reminded some veteran American soccer journalists of the scene when Pele was introduced to New York in 1975 as the newest member of the now-defunct Cosmos at Manhattan's famous 51 Club, where two reporters got into a fight. The German defender, who turns 39 on Sunday, has signed a one-year deal to play in Major League Soccer, and raised eyebrows Friday when he referred to "several years" with the MetroStars. "I'd like to wait and see how I play," Matthaeus said. "It's true I have a one-year contract. But I wouldn't exclude longer. That will be determined on my performance." Matthaeus' commitment to the MetroStars has been questioned due to several reports and comments since he appeared at a New York press conference in November to announce his transfer to the MetroStars. At that press conference he announced his contract with Bayern Munich would expire at the end of the year and that he would come to the United States shortly after the New Year. But with Bayern fighting for a quarterfinal berth in the European Champions League, that was delayed until Friday. Additionally, reports had him considering staying longer at Bayern until the quarterfinal round and other reports said he had asked MetroStars general manager Nick Sakiewicz to release him for two German national team friendlies in May prior to the European Championship in June, which he is expected to return to Europe for. "I want to emphasize everything [with the transfer] went without problems and was fully proper," Matthaeus said. "Tell my fans from the MetroStars that I want to win and reach the final in the championship." Matthaeus ended his career with Bayern on Wednesday, helping his German club to a 4-1 victory over Real Madrid, a win that clinched its place in the European Champions League quarterfinals. Matthaeus was wished farewell Wednesday morning, his departure from Munich covered by about 150 reporters, television cameras and photographers and a banner hung by airport officials wishing him good luck. "We left with one eye crying and the other eye laughing," said Matthaeus' girlfriend, Maren Mueller-Wolhfahrt, who accompanied the German star on the trip and was taken aback by the press reaction at Giants Stadium. "We expected journalists, but nothing like that," she said. Matthaeus was not expected to join his MetroStars teammates this weekend, who left for Virginia Beach earlier Friday for a preseason match against the Chicago Fire on Saturday. His first scheduled meeting with his new teammates is set for Monday, when he attends his first training session at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. The MetroStars are scheduled to open their season on March 26 against the Miami Fusion in Fort Lauderdale.
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