Dejected coach Voeller resigns

Germany coach Rudi Voeller resigned on Thursday after the three-times world and European champions were knocked out of Euro 2004. The 44-year-old Voeller said the national side needed a new start before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

8216;8216;I have the feeling that only someone who is untarnished and has a certain credibility 8212; like I had four years ago 8212; can do the job over the next two years,8217;8217; he told a news conference. Voeller told team officials overnight and they had asked him not to make a hasty decision. 8216;8216;He told us it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision taken just after the game. We regret this decision but we have to accept it,8217;8217; said German federation president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder.