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Football

23rd Feb 2022

Former Bayern striker forced to take manager’s job after losing bet

Daniel Brown

At least he followed through with the bet

Former Bayern Munich player Mario Basler has reportedly been named manager of eigth-tier German side Türkgücü Osnabrück because he lost a bet after losing a squash match.

As reported by German outlet kicker, the 53-year-old recently made a bet with a friendly member of Türkgücü that he would become the coach at the club if he lost a squash match.

Having lost the game, the three-time German champion kept his word and has since been revealed as the club’s new manager.

Türkgücü – who compete in the Kreisliga C divison in Germany – currently sit in second position and are targeting promotion.

The report adds that Basler will officially become the new coach on Tuesday (March 2) and will remain with the club for a year- and-a-half.

According to Sakinmaz Basler, the club’s former coach, Ali Ucar, will become the new ‘right hand’ to Basler, with the sporting director confirming that the players are ‘happy’ with the appointment.

“The boys are happy, they can still learn a lot from Basler,” he said.

Basler made nearly 500 appearances in his career, featuring for several German sides such as Bayern München, Werder Bremen and FC Kaiserslautern.

He scored 113 goals and registered 95 assists and won the European Championship in 1996.

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