Beckenbauer considers options

29 April 2009 14:30
Franz Beckenbauer has admitted that Frank Rijkaard could be a possible candidate to replace Jurgen Klinsmann at Bayern Munich, but has ruled out Guus Hiddink and Arsene Wenger. The Bayern president stated earlier this week that he was looking for someone 'in the class of Hiddink' after dismissing Klinsmann as manager. However, Beckenbauer expects the Dutchman to focus on his duties with Russia once his Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season. "I value him over all others, but he will leave Chelsea to concentrate on the Russian team," Beckenbauer told Premiere. "He won't take his place at Bayern." Beckenbauer also accepts that Wenger will want to stay at Arsenal after 13 years with the north London club. "Naturally he is an option, but we will not get him," he explained. "He has developed the side in England and will not want to leave." Rijkaard is available after being sacked by Barcelona last summer and Beckenbauer is looking to explore all his options. He said: "One solution would be Rijkaard, he doesn't have a contract at the moment. "It is still a little early to talk about this but, of course, one must think about possibilities. "We have to look into who would fit at Bayern and then make our decision." Jupp Heynckes has been appointed as Bayern boss until the end of the season and he is desperate to ensure the club clinches UEFA Champions League qualification. Bayern are currently third in the Bundesliga table with five games of the season remaining, but there are still a number of sides in contention for the title. "A club like Bayern Munich must be playing in the Champions League next year," said Heynckes. "Five teams can still win the league and the players are better, for example, than the way they played last weekend." General manager Uli Hoeness concedes that Bayern could not go on with Klinsmann at the helm following heavy defeats to Wolfsburg and Barcelona. He told tz: "If you agonise over the future in such a way, like we did in recent weeks, and then make a decision, you are certainly going to feel relieved afterwards. "I have to admit, I did not sleep the night before. After the Barcelona defeat and the one at Wolfsburg the situation had escalated. "This is what I had told Jurgen at that point in time already, that it could become very tight with just one defeat. "We were getting anxious due to the negative atmosphere and the results of the team and we want to turn that all around with the appointment of my old mate Jupp Heynckes and my old warrior Hermann Gerland."

Source: SKY_Sports