Rothenberg Trying to Get Beckenbauer

Alan Rothenberg, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, stepped up the federation’s pursuit of Franz Beckenbauer Monday, saying he will offer the West German coach a job doing “anything and everything.”

Rothenberg also dismissed as “silly” a letter sent from six former USSF officers to soccer’s international governing body, FIFA, protesting what they say was FIFA’s interference in the recent USSF elections.

Rothenberg said he will meet with Beckenbauer in Austria next month to discuss the possibility of the coach working with the USSF. Beckenbauer, however, was quoted by Agence-France Presse Sunday as saying he will not be coming to the United States in any soccer capacity for at least two years, if at all.

Rothenberg, who was elected as president last month, said he wants to meet with Beckenbauer personally. He said he is already planning to meet FIFA officials in Switzerland early next month and will make a side trip to talk with Beckenbauer.

Rothenberg said he has had preliminary discussions with Beckenbauer’s representatives and is prepared to offer him virtually any job within the federation.

Beckenbauer, who coached West Germany to the World Cup title last month, has been rumored to be taking a position with the USSF.

The coach was quoted by Agence-France Press as saying: “I cannot do anything else in Germany with my title of world champion. I won’t go to the United States to prepare for the World Cup before 1992.”

Rumors have also surfaced that Beckenbauer will soon take a coaching job in Europe.

Regarding the letter to FIFA, which Rothenberg termed “a rather feeble protest,” little response is expected. According to Stephen Flamhaft, a Brooklyn attorney retained by the group of former USSF officers, FIFA has yet to respond to the letter sent Aug. 10 to FIFA’s general secretary, Joseph Blatter.

Flamhaft said Monday that the six former officers represented a much larger number of USSF members upset by events at the USSF elections Aug. 5 at Orlando, Fla., which led to the election of Rothenberg.

Flamhaft said that the letter asked FIFA to conduct an inquiry into allegations that FIFA officials actively campaigned for Rothenberg. He is not optimistic that FIFA will show any interest in investigating itself.