BERTI VOGTS is backing Scotland to grow into the team of his "vision", after admitting the players gave everything during his two-and-a-half years in charge.
The Scottish Football Association yesterday confirmed they had accepted Vogts’ resignation as coach after a disastrous start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
But the German has left with fond memories of his players. "I have to say that I
have been touched by the unreserved support that my players have given me, especially my captain Barry Ferguson," he said.
"I was proud that they stood shoulder to shoulder with me when it would have been easy to turn their backs. When the going got tough they stood firm.
"I still have belief in my boys, all of them. I know that in time, and given support, they will develop into the team of my vision."
Vogts admits he had little option but to quit as Scotland coach, blaming what he calls "disgraceful abuse". In a statement he said: "The major factor in this decision has been the disgraceful abuse I suffered, especially of late. It has degenerated into a physical nature, especially on recent occasions where I have been spat upon.
"I know that the vast majority of Scots will join me in my disgust at this act by a very tiny minority."
Former Rangers manager Walter Smith is favourite to succeed Vogts, but Tommy Docherty believes the future looks grim for the Scotland national team - no matter who replaces the German.
Docherty
said: "The next manager might be able to make a slight improvement - but the bottom line is the talent is not there.
"Everyone is assuming that Walter Smith will get the job, and he knows Scottish football inside out as well as having a good knowledge of the game in England.
"He did well at Rangers. But in Scotland it is only Rangers and Celtic, so it was easy. He had quite a few Scottish and British players in his team back then. But it is all foreigners now, and that is the problem for the national team."
Rise and fall of Berti1946: Born December 30, Bottgen, Germany.
1954: Joins the junior ranks of hometown club VfB Bottgen.
1965: Moves to Borussia Monchengladbach, making first of 483 Bundesliga appearances in a 14-year career with the club. Earns nickname ‘Der Terrier’ for tenacious style of play.
1967: Makes debut for West Germany, the first of 96 caps.
1970: Wins Bundesliga with Monchengladbach.
1971: Vogts named German Footballer of the Year.
1974: Wins World Cup with West Germany with 2-1 win over Holland.
1975: Gladbach win Bundesliga and UEFA Cup double, defeating Twente Enschede in the final.
1977: Gladbach defeated 3-1 by Liverpool in European Cup final. Vogts brings down Kevin Keegan for decisive penalty.
1978: West Germany knocked out of World Cup at second group stage. The 3-2 defeat to Austria is Vogts’ last game for the national team.
1979: Vogts retires as a player, taking a position as a youth coach for the DFB in the then West Germany.
1986: Appointed assistant to national team coach Franz Beckenbauer.
1990: West Germany win World Cup, with a 1-0 win over Argentina. Vogts takes over as coach of a unified German side.
1994: Germany knocked out of World Cup in USA after a 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria.
1996: Germany win Euro 96 after 2-1 golden goal defeat of Czech Republic at Wembley.
1998: Vogts resigns after 3-0 defeat to Croatia at France 98.
2000: Appointed coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
2001: Takes Leverkusen to the Champions League, but resigns after player disquiet. Appointed coach of Kuwait in August.
2002: March: Succeeds Craig Brown as national coach of Scotland. First match in charge is a 5-0 humbling by World Cup holders France.
September: Scotland escape with 2-2 draw in opening game of Euro 2004 qualifiers away to Faroe Islands.
October: Earns first win as Scotland manager with 2-0 victory in Iceland.
2003: February: Starts 2003 with a disappointing home defeat by the Republic of Ireland.
April: Defeat in Lithuania costs dearly for Vogts’ Euro 2004 aspirations.
June: Scotland hold Germany to 1-1 draw at Hampden after Kenny Miller cancels out Fredi Bobic’s opener.
October: A solitary Darren Fletcher goal against Lithuania at Hampden seals a Euro 2004 play-off place.
November: James McFadden scores winner against Holland in play-off first leg but, four days later, Scotland are crushed 6-0 in Amsterdam.
2004: February: Scotland start the year with a 4-0 defeat by Wales in the Millennium Stadium.
May: Two successive wins against Estonia and Trinidad & Tobago encourage Scotland fans.
August: Optimism crumbles with 3-0 home defeat by Hungary - worst home defeat since February 1973.
September: World Cup qualifying campaign opens with a goalless draw against Slovenia at Hampden.
October: Norway win 1-0 at Hampden as James McFadden is dismissed for deliberate handball and, days later, Scotland draw in Moldova.
November 1: Announces his resignation as Scotland coach citing "disgraceful abuse" from Scotland fans as a "major factor".
Report card: Must do betterBERTI VOGTS’ record as Scotland manager:
March 27, 2002: France (a) L 5-0
April 17, 2002: Nigeria (h) L 2-1
May 16, 2002: South Korea (a) L 4-1
May 20, 2002: South Africa (a) L 2-0
May 23, 2002: Hong Kong League XI (a) W 4-0
August 21, 2002: Denmark (h) L 1-0
September 7, 2002: Faroe Islands (a) D 2-2
October 12, 2002: Iceland (a) W 2-0
October 15, 2002: Canada (h) W 3-1
November 20, 2002: Portugal (a) L 2-0
February 12, 2003: Republic of Ireland (h) L 2-0
March 29, 2003: Iceland (h) W 2-1
April 2, 2003: Lithuania (a) L 1-0
April 30, 2003: Austria (h) L 2-0
May 27, 2003: New Zealand (h) D 1-1
June 6, 2003: Germany (h) D 1-1
August 20, 2003: Norway (a) D 0-0
September 6, 2003: Faroe Islands (h) W 3-1
September 10, 2003: Germany (a) L 2-1
October 11, 2003: Lithuania (h) W 1-0
November 15, 2003: Holland (h) W 1-0
November 19, 2003: Holland (a) L 6-0
February 18, 2004: Wales (a) L 4-0
March 31, 2004: Romania (h) L 2-1
April 28, 2004: Denmark (a) L 1-0
May 27, 2004: Estonia (a) W 1-0
May 30, 2004: Trinidad & Tobago (h) W 4-1
August 18, 2004: Hungary (h) L 3-0
September 3, 2004: Spain (a) D 1-1 - abandoned after 59 minutes.
September 8, 2004: Slovenia (h) D 0-0
October 9, 2004: Norway (h) L 1-0
October 13, 2004: Moldova (a) D 1-1
Final score: Played 32, Won 9, Drew 7, Lost 16.
