When the candidates for the new technical director of the German Football Federation (DFB) were being discussed, footballing greats such as West Germany's 1974 World Cup winner Berti Vogts and Euro 96 victor Matthias Sammer were tipped for the role.

But Klinsmann is not one to go with the flow and suggested Bernhard Peters, coach of the national hockey team, stirring up a hornets' nest in his homeland.

"Bernhard Peters is the man who can help us progress," said Klinsmann. "It would do football some good to open up. In the last 10 or 15 years we have been sleeping in Germany.

"Maybe there will be a few critical comments but other sports are ahead of us."

Klinsmann was right about the criticism with the media asking what Peters knows about football besides watching the Bundesliga from his armchair every weekend.

Peters, coach of the German hockey team since 2000, has been a success in his own sport capturing the world title in 2002 but are football and hockey compatible?

Both sports use a ball, although the hockey one is significantly smaller, and are played by two sets of eleven players on a field, but that is where the similarities end.

"I think hockey is a different sport to football," Vogts, Germany coach for the Euro 96 success, informed Kicker magazine. "You cannot compare the two and I cannot believe the idea."

Hannover coach Peter Neururer also ridiculed the idea, joking: "I know a volleyball coach who could do the job."

The DFB sporting director is responsible for nurturing the top football talent in Germany and must be willing to step in as national coach in case of an emergency.

For that reason a football person would seem a more logical choice and Sammer, who has played and managed at the top level, is touting for the post. "I am willing to help and offer my experience as a player and manager," explained Sammer.

Klinsmann is said to not want Sammer hovering over him, putting the DFB in a tricky position.

On one hand they are keen to appease the 1990 World Cup winner with West Germany and could appoint Peters by the February deadline.

But on the other the DFB do not want to put Peters in place and then watch Klinsmann walk out after this summer's World Cup.

"Jurgen Klinsmann says he wants Bernhard Peters here in October 2006 but he is not saying clearly enough that he will be here then," DFB president Theo Zwanziger said.

Klinsmann refuses to sign a contract extension claiming his future hinges on the team's performances at the finals, running from June 9 until July 9.

Since taking charge in August 2004 the former Bayern Munich player has implemented controversial methods, bringing in fitness trainers from the USA, a chief scout from Switzerland and a sports psychologist.

But a hockey coach as sporting director would surely take the biscuit.