Vogts sets Euro target

BERTI VOGTS today became the new Scotland manager and immediately set his sights on leading the Tartan Army to the European Championships in Portugal in two years time.

The 56-year-old German became the first foreign coach to take charge of the Scottish national side as he was unveiled at a packed Press conference at Hampden flanked by SFA president Jack McGinn and chief executive David Taylor.

And he immediately joked that perhaps one reason why the SFA had made him their No.1 target was that he had never known defeat by the Auld Enemy England as a manager.

Raising a laugh by claiming he should now be known as “Berti McVogts,” the former midfield star who won 96 caps for West Germany described becoming the first foreign coach of Scotland as “a great honour.”

Today’s official presentation ended a protracted series of negotiations with the Kuwaiti Football Federation to release Vogts from his contract with them.

Vogts said: “I am very pleased and relieved that I can be presented as the new Scotland coach. I am looking forward to the great challenge of working with the Scottish national team for the next four years, maybe longer – I hope longer.

“Kuwait was for me a completely new challenge and shows one is never too old to learn. Scotland means to me a return to the real melting pot of football.

“Everyone who knows me knows I love the kind of football that is full of emotion and passion as displayed by the Scots. Qualification for Euro 2004 is my immediate aim. For the Tartan Army this will be my primary target. When we are playing you can call me Berti McVogts!”

Vogts revealed he is looking for a Scot to be his No.2, saying: “I think that would be good for the team, me and Scotland,” but added he had no-one in mind.

Taken from the Scotsman