Former defender Kohler wants to remain in club management

Former World Cup winner Jurgen Kohler has rejected the chance to become manager of the Ivorian national side.

"The Ivory Coast has better players than Bayern Munich but I have turned the offer down," Kohler told Kicker, a German football magazine.

"I would rather work as a club coach. I need the daily involvement."

But Ivorian Football Federation vice-president Lambert Feh Kesse claimed Kohler's family stopped him from completing the deal.

"At the last minute we were informed there were difficulties within the German coach's family which prevented him from coming, security reasons which had been raised by his wife," he said.

"We're disappointed, we have to say, because we have gone through all the negotiations. Everything was agreed. A draft had been written and it remained only to sign it with a view to drawing up a proper contract.

"We will keep looking and by 8 October, when we play our African Nations Group One qualifier against Gabon, a name will be announced."

Kohler, who was sacked as coach of Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg in April, had been expected to succeed Henri Michel as coach.

Michel left his post after the west African side crashed out of this year's World Cup in Germany, losing two of their three group games.

The Ivory Coast play French Ligue One side Nice in a friendly on Friday.

Former Italy defender Franco Baresi has also been linked with the position vacated by Michel.

Kohler won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and was capped 105 times by his country.