Rehhagel resigns as Greece’s coach after World Cup exit

ATHENS - Otto Rehhagel has quit as Greece’s national team coach after nine years at the helm following the team’s exit from the World Cup, according to reports out of Athens Wednesday.

NovaSport FM said the 71-year-old German informed his players of his plans to resign as their coach following Greece’s 0-2 defeat to Argentina in Group B Tuesday.

Greece’s football federation was expected to formally announce Rehhagel’s resignation and successor when the team returns from South Africa on Thursday.

Former PAOK coach Fernando Santos is reportedly lined up for the top job. The 55-year-old Portuguese quit the northern Greek club in May despite earning a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Rehhagel’s long-time assistant, Giannis Topalidis, also resigned.

“For me it is the last night as part of the national team. I am happy for everything I experienced these past nine years. I had no idea that I would get to experience so much,” Topalidis said.

“My decision is definite, even if Rehhagel ends up staying on,” he said.

Greece were eliminated from the World Cup on Tuesday after losing their final group game to Argentina. South Korea joined Argentina in the Round of 16 after holding Nigeria to a 2-2 draw.

Greece’s exit from the World Cup means the end of an era not only for the 71-year-old German coach, but for many of his senior players - including Kostas Katsaouranis and Giourkas Seitaridis - who took part in the surprise win at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

Greece were considered outsiders to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup. But many Greeks had hoped that the team could have sprung a surprise as they did in Portugal six years ago.

“We leave the World Cup with out heads held high,” read the headline of the daily newspaper Eleftheros Typos.