Völler returns to Leverkusen
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Article summary
Rudi Völler is back at former club Bayer 04 Leverkusen after agreeing to take up the post of sporting director.
Article body
Contract until 2007
Völler signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club today, four years after leaving to coach the Germany national team. The 44-year-old stepped down as national coach after his side failed to make it past the group stage at UEFA EURO 2004™ and subsequently took the reins at AS Roma, another of his former clubs. However, he quit in September after less than a month in the Italian capital.
First option
Völler had always insisted that Leverkusen would be his first option if and when he decided to return to football, and the Bundesliga outfit had a vacancy in that position following Jürgen Kohler's departure in the summer. "We are extremely pleased that Rudi Völler will return to the club," said general manager Wolfgang Holzhäuser.
Previous spell
The former German international striker ended his playing career with Leverkusen, making 62 appearances between 1994 and 1996, scoring 26 goals. He was then appointed sporting director at the club before being named coach in October 2000. After less than a month in charge Völler returned to his original position, but the following summer left the club to take the Germany job.
