Kurt Jara the new coach in Lautern
The former HSV coach Kurt Jara is the new man in charge at the Bundesliga strugglers Kaiserslautern. Just 24 hours after the dismissal of the luckless Belgian Erik Gerets, Lautern's president Rene C. Jäggi presented his new coach to the press. Jara has agreed a deal until the end of this season. A long term deal is expected to be drawn up over the next couple of weeks. That deal will include a contract for the second division should Kaiserslautern be relegated.
Jara in hot seat against Cologne
Jara was sacked by HSV on October 22nd 2003 after a 0-4 defeat away to...Kaiserslautern. The Austrian coach will be on the Lautern bench for Saturday's "six-pointer" against Cologne in round 19 of the Bundesliga. His co-trainer will be Manfred Linzmaier, the man who assisted him in Tirol as well as Hamburg.
Not good enough
Lautern's president Rene C. Jäggi said of the dismissal of his friend Gerets: "The impression left after our 1-2 defeat away to 1860 Munich last weekend forced us to have a rethink, and showed us it was time to act right away. We could not see ourselves staying in the top flight under the present situation."
Gerets number 274
The sacking of the 49 year old Gerets was the 274th since the start of the Bundesliga in 1963. Before Gerets, the following Bundesliga coaches have been sacked this season: Huub Stevens (Hertha), Ewald Lienen (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kurt Jara (HSV) and Friedhelm Funkel (Cologne). Armin Veh left Hansa Rostock of his own accord.
