Berti's back: 'Der Terrier' moves to U.S. sidelines

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 27, 2015

Berti Vogts, who is responsible for Jurgen Klinsmann getting his job as German national team coach in 2004, has been hired as Klinsmann's technical advisor to the U.S. national team. Vogts, who worked as an advisor before and during last summer's World Cup, was on the bench for the first time at Wednesday's USA-Denmark game.

Vogts, who started on Germany's 1974 World Cup championship team, was Klinsmann's coach for eight years on the German national team in the 1990s. Germany won Euro 1996 and finished second to Denmark at Euro 1992 but only managed to reach the quarterfinals at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, the only times in the last nine tournaments it has failed to reach the final four.

"We had a fantastic experience with Berti during the 2014 FIFA World Cup," said Klinsmann in a statement. "His knowledge and experience is a tremendous asset for us. With Andi Herzog having a big focus on qualifying the U-23 team for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Berti will make an even more important contribution."

In a statement issued by U.S. Soccer, it said Vogts would work in Europe with Herzog and scout Matthias Hamann "on scouting, building and improving club relationships and identifying talent" and serve "as a resource for technical development initiatives and coaching education."

Vogts had a distinguished playing career, earning 96 caps and the nickname "Der Terrier" for his defensive prowess. He helped Borussia Moenchengladbach win five Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Cups.

After coaching Germany, Vogts coached the national teams of Scotland (2002-04), Nigeria (2007-08) and Azerbaijan (2008-2014). One of his last games with Azerbaijan was against the USA in San Francisco on the eve of the 2014 World Cup.

Following Euro 2004, where Germany exited without a win, the German federation was desperate to find a coach to replace Rudi Voeller ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The first two choices, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Otto Rehhagel, declined, prompting Vogts, who happened to be on vacation in California, to talk to Klinsmann, then retired and living in Newport Beach, about taking the job.

Vogts arranged the meeting between Klinsmann and DFB general secretary Horst Schmidt that led to Klinsmann, who had no coaching experience, taking the job as a commuter coach. Germany finished third at the World Cup.