Despite failing to lead the European champions to next year's World Cup, the German coach of Greek national football team Otto Rehhagel still gets support from most Greeks.

Rehhagel, affectionately known as "King Otto", who steered Greece to a surprise EURO 2004 victory last year, enjoys great popularity among Greek players, sports officials and fans.

Greek Football Association has already offered Rehhagel an extension until 2008 but the 67-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the year, hasn't made any clear-cut decision on whether to stay or move on.

"As my wife Beate always says 'never take a decision in the heat of the moment'," he said.

"I will continue coaching, that's for sure. I just don't know where," Rehhagel told German television. "I will discuss it with the FA and I don't know what will come out of these discussions."

Asked whether he had anything left to prove in Greece, he said:"I have nothing to prove to anyone anyway, only to my wife."

Players, officials and newspapers have all called for Rehhagel -- to stay. There's widespread speculation the 67-year-old will leave before his contract ends Dec. 31.

A nationwide television poll released minutes after the last European zone World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday which ended Greece' s hopes of going to Germany, showed a staggering 88.8 percent of Greeks in favor of Rehhagel staying on.

Greek Football Association chief Vassilis Gagatsis was optimistic Rehhagel would stay.

"I am waiting for his answer of our offer to stay on until 2008and I think it will be positive," he said.

Supporters chanted Rehhagel's name throughout the home game against Georgia. One banner read: "Otto, always first in our hearts."

"We don't mind whether we can go to World Cup or not. We respect him and we love him, because he gave us wonderful moments we have never dreamed of. I hope he will stay with us," said one Greek football fan.

Greece became only the third European champions failing to qualify for the World Cup finals after the 1976 champions Czechoslovakia missed out on a place in Argentina and 1992 champions Denmark did not reach USA 1994.

Source: CRI News