Beckenbauer Agrees to Become U.S. Consultant : Soccer: Former West German coach will help set up the U.S. team program, at least through 1992.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Thursday that former West German coach Franz Beckenbauer has agreed in principle to serve as a consultant to the federation through 1992.
The agreement came after meetings between Beckenbauer and USSF President Alan Rothenberg this week in West Germany.
“This would include helping set up our national team program and making a number of visits to the United States,” Rothenberg said. “Thereafter, he will have a substantially more full-time role with the USSF.”
The USSF has been negotiating to hire Beckenbauer, the only person to win the World Cup as a player and a coach, for its 1994 Cup campaign. Beckenbauer’s plans after ’92 are uncertain.
Regarding Beckenbauer’s limited two-year involvement, Rothenberg said he is “looking forward to having him around in a more advanced role.”
Rothenberg said that Beckenbauer, who led West Germany to the 1990 World Cup championship in July, will consult with the United States while he is with the French League champion Olympique Marseilles.
Beckenbauer signed a two-year contract with Marseilles Thursday to become technical director, according to club owner Bernard Tapie.
Tapie recently became the majority owner of Adidas; Beckenbauer has a business relationship with the athletic apparel company. Wire reports say Adidas will pay a portion of Beckenbauer’s salary with Marseilles, a first-division club.
Tapie has paid huge sums for players since vowing to win the European Cup for France. He paid $8 million for Yugoslav forward Dragan Stojkovic, after paying a $7-million fee last year for Britain’s Chris Waddle.
