Bahrain Tribune: Briegel never sacked!

The agent of former Bahrain national football team head coach Hans-Peter Briegel yesterday lashed out at false claims that his client was dismissed from his post, and clarified that it was Briegel’s personal decision to leave. Koenig made the clarification after repeated reports in international media that the former West Germany defender was dismissed from his position with the team. Speaking exclusively to Bahrain Tribune, Oliver Koenig said: “Briegel was never sacked. This is all a big misunderstanding.” Koenig explained of Briegel’s decision: “He came here to do one thing, and that was to win. But it was all these things around the team that was causing a lot of trouble that he felt would not allow him to be successful. “He never had a problem with the team. But according to his philosophy as a former football player and now a coach, he believed that a team must have full concentration at all times, but he saw that wasn’t the case and he didn’t think the atmosphere was good.” Koenig noted that once Briegel put in his request to leave, no efforts were made by team officials to try and prevent him from quitting. “They just agreed. They probably understood what was in Briegel’s mind. “He’s very disappointed with what has transpired. He wanted to build something great, but it turned out different,” he said. Briegel – who signed a two-year contract worth US$800,000 in May, 2006 – has not asked to be paid the remainder of the deal, according to Koenig, who added: “From the day he retired, he did not ask for a single penny from anyone.” Briegel is now taking a break from football and is on vacation in Germany. “For guys like Briegel, it is not a big deal to be away from football,” explained Koenig. “It doesn’t matter if he coaches again next week or three months from now. He is not under any stress, and he’s resting for the moment.” Briegel, a national team player between 1979 and ‘86, was reportedly relieved of his duties after Bahrain lost 1-2 to Saudi Arabia in its opening match in the 18th Gulf Cup in Abu Dhabi last January. The German took responsibility for the defeat and even apologized for it at a Press conference after the match. Briegel was apparently sacked immediately after a meeting between president of the BFA Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and president of the General Organisation for Youth and Sports Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. However, after a Press statement recently released by Koenig and his agency, it was made known that it was truly Briegel’s choice of quitting. Olympic football team head coach Kreso Senad was immediately appointed the technical manager of the team, while Marjan Eid was selected as the caretaker coach.