Lothar Matthaus named new Bulgaria coach

SOFIA (AFP) - German football great Lothar Matthaeus has been appointed as Bulgaria's new national team coach, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) announced on Tuesday.
"Lothar Matthaeus is the new national team coach," BFU president Borislav Mihaylov football jerseys
told a press conference after a meeting of the union's executive board. "He will sign his contract over the coming days."
Mihaylov refused to disclose any financial details about the contract but said it would be for one year, with an option to extend it by two more years.
Matthaeus, who last managed Israeli club Maccabi Netanya, will replace former national coach Stanimir Stoilov, who resigned after Bulgaria lost their second successive Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on September 7.
The 49-year-old German is expected to lead the squad in their next qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on October 8.
A former captain of the West German national team and 1990 World Cup winner, Matthaeus was named the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year in 1991.
After ending his career as footballer, the former midfielder coached a range of San Francisco 49ers jersey
teams, including Partizan Belgrade, Hungary's national team and Red Bull Salzburg.
WOLFSBURG, Germany (AFP) - Wolfsburg's Algerian international Karim Ziani is expected to be out for two to three months because he needs a hip operation, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old, who arrived at Wolfsburg in July 2009, has struggled with a pain in his groin and needs an operation to fix the problem.
"Experts consulted have determined that Karim Ziani could not do without a hip operation," said the 2009 Bundesliga champions on their website.
"It is expected he will be out for two to three months."
The midfielder was part of Algeria's World Cup squad and despite 13 Buffalo Bills jersey
appearances, including three this season, for Wolfsburg, has yet to win a game with the Bundesliga club.
Wolfsburg, who are second-from-bottom of the German league, are at Hamburg on Wednesday in the German league.