Klinsmann says auf Wiedersehen

Despite impressive poll numbers (all of his players and 93 percent of the German public wanted him to stay), and an unexpectedly good finish (third place) at the World Cup, Juergen Klinsmann is stepping down as Germany's coach.

``I regret his decision, but we have to accept it," Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, co-president of the German soccer federation, said today.

The news could revive speculation that the former star German striker will hook up with the United States' program. Klinsmann recently said he wasn't negotiating with the US and the BBC said he dismissed reports of a lucrative offer to replace coach Bruce Arena, but his statements were made while Germany was still active. Arena has coached the US for the last eight years.

Bild and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported in today's editions that Klinsmann wouldn't extend his contract with Germany that ended with the World Cup. Klinsmann called German soccer federation co-president Theo Zwanziger and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to tell them that he would not be staying in the job, the papers reported. The papers said Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Loew was his likely successor.

Klinsmann, 41, had no previous coaching experience when he took over an ailing German squad two years ago. Before his team's dramatic about-face, Klinsmann faced German media criticism for his decision to live in the US and commute on 11-hour flights.

After Germany beat Portugal, 3-1, to take third place, Klinsmann said he would think about his future over the next few days and consult with his California-based family. He has an American wife and has lived for years in California.

The US was eliminated after finishing last in its group and scoring only one goal from the run of play. Klinsmann's Germany led the World Cup with 14 goals.

Marco Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the French captain head-butted him in the World Cup final, but denied he called Zidane a terrorist. ``I did insult him, it's true," Materazzi said in Gazzetta dello Sport. ``But I categorically did not call him a terrorist. I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is." A Paris-based anti-racism group issued a statement saying Materazzi had called Zidane, whose parents emigrated to France from Algeria, a ``dirty terrorist." FIFA said it will open a disciplinary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words in extra time Sunday in Berlin. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was ejected from the match. ``I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to me, sneering," the Italian defender said. ``He looked me up and down, arrogantly and said: `If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards.' " The Italian did not elaborate on exactly what he said to Zidane, saying, ``It was one of those insults you're told tens of times and that always fly around the pitch." . . . Poland appointed Leo Beenhakker, who led Trinidad and Tobago to its first World Cup, as coach of its national soccer team, replacing Pawel Janas.