USA: LOTHAR MATTHEUS RETURNS TO PLAY WITH NEW YORK NW JERSEY METROSTARS AMERICAN FOOTBALL SOCCER TEAM

Record ID: 646576

  • Title: USA: LOTHAR MATTHEUS RETURNS TO PLAY WITH NEW YORK NW JERSEY METROSTARS AMERICAN FOOTBALL SOCCER TEAM
  • Date: 20th July 2000
  • Summary: (NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA) (JULY 21ST, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. LOTHAR MATTHEUS ENTERS MLS HEADQUARTERS 2. MLS NEWS CONFERENCE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (German) LOTHAR MATTHEUS SAYING: "The coach has clarified some misunderstandings that didn't go as well in the last couple of weeks and I hope that the team will receive me such that we will together achieve the goal that we are aiming for." (EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY,USA) (MARCH 10, 2000) (FILE) 4. METROSTARS GENERAL MANAGER NICK SAKIEWICZ. (UNION, NEW JERSEY, USA) (MARCH 13, 2000) (FILE) 5. MATTHAEUS WALKING ONTO PRACTICE FIELD 6. PHOTOGRAPHER CUTAWAY 7. MATTHAEUS STRETCHING ON FIELD 8. WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS SCRIMMAGING ON THE FIELD 9. MATTHEUS DRIBBLING WITH BALL (UNION, NEW JERSEY, USA) (JULY 20, 2000) (REUTERS) 10. METROSTARS PRACTICE 11. METROSTARS SCORE A GOAL IN SCRIMMAGE 12. STRIKER BILLY WALSH 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILLY WALSH-STRIKER/METROSTARS SAYING: "We just really don't care you know, we are winning without him, we are playing good soccer, I mean he has been gone and we keep hearing that he is coming back or he is not coming back. It really doesn't phase us at all." 14. OCTAVIO ZAMBRANO INSTRUCTING PLAYERS IN PRACTICE (JULY 21, 2000) (NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA) (REUTERS) 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OCTAVIO ZAMBRINO, METRO STARS COACH SAYING, "We're looking forward to having him rejoin the team and obviously we have ironed out some minor differences that we had nothing really irrepreable and I believe that our relationship is as good as it ever was and again I think the players will welcome him as I have just welcomed him back and we're looking forward to a great run in what's left of the season." 16. CAMERAMAN 17. PRESS CONFERENCE 18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NICK SAKIEWICZ SAYING, "The outcome of the meeting is very fortunate the way we have come to the conclusion that he is going to report to practice nezt week and be part of our team and hopefully lead us to a championship." (UNION, NEW JERSEY, USA) (JULY 20, 2000) (REUTERS) 19. METROSTARS SCRIMMAGE IN PRACTICE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND UNION NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TC62HBJWBYC89AW9WF6MQVK6
  • Story Text: The New York New Jersey MetroStars announced that
    Lothar Mattheus will return to play for the team after a very
    controversial leave of absence.



    The New York, New Jersey MetroStars have had a major
    problem with their biggest star, Lothar Mattheus and on Friday
    (July 21) he was called to a meeting at the headquarters of
    Major League Soccer to discuss his future with his team.

    Mattheus has only played 10 games with the MetroStars
    since signing a $1 million dollar contract. He has complained
    of back problems but was seen relaxing in the South of France
    with his supermodel girlfriend while away for treatment of the
    injury.

    Rumours began to circulate that the MetroStars would
    drop the multi-talented German star from their team. But at a
    press conference held after 3 hours of meetings Mattheus
    announced he was staying.

    "The coach has clarified some misunderstandings that
    didn't go as well in the last couple of weeks and I hope that
    the team will recieve me such that we will together achieve
    the goal that we are aiming for," Mattheus expleined.

    The MetroStars have a 3 - 6 and 1 record with
    Matthaeus on the team and a 8 win 1 loss one tie record
    without him since he left the MetroStars over a month ago.

    Matthaeus' replacement on the field, American Billy Walsh says
    it really doesn't matter if the former captain of the 1990
    German World Cup Champion team comes back. "We just really
    don't care you know, we are winning without him, we are
    playing good soccer, I mean he has been gone and we keep
    hearing that he is coming back or he is not coming back. It
    really doesn't phase us at all," he said.

    Ecuadorian coach Octavio Zambrano, who has led the
    MetroStars into first place, hopes Mattheus will lead the team
    during the rest of the season.

    "We're looking forward to having him rejoin the team and
    obviously we have ironed out some minor differences that we
    had nothing really irrepreable and I believe that our
    relationshipt is as good as it ever was and again I think the
    players will welcome him as I have just welcomed him back and
    we're looking forward to a great run in what's left of the
    season," he said.

    Nick Sakiewicz, the General Manager of the MetroStars
    spoke at length about the meeting with Mattheus saying, "The
    outcome of the meeting is very fortunate the way we have come
    to the conclusion that he is going to report to practice next
    week and be part of our team and hopefully lead us to a
    championship."
    Mattheus is not expected to play in the MLS All-Star Game
    on July 29 in Columbus, Ohio.


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