Klinsmann douses speculation he will coach US

BERLIN, June 26 (Reuters) Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said today he was not interested in any other job, dousing speculation he might be the next United States coach.

''That doesn't interest me at all,'' Klinsmann said when asked at a news conference in Berlin about his interest in coaching the US team, who were eliminated at the group stage.

''At the moment, I'm only interested in my job and that has to continue to the final,'' said Klinsmann, who has yet to say what his future plans are. His two-year contract with Germany expires after the World Cup.

Klinsmann, who has an American wife, has lived for years in California and cherishes his anonymous lifestyle there. He spent a few weeks working as an observer with the US team several years before he took the Germany job in 2004.

''It's speculation,'' said Klinsmann, 41. ''It's something completely normal that there is speculation about the coach in a country that gets knocked out.'' The US were eliminated after losing 3-0 to Czech Republic and 2-1 to Ghana. They finished a disappointing last in Group E with one point from a 1-1 draw against Italy.

Former US striker Eric Wynalda and many US newspapers have said Klinsmann would be an ideal candidate to replace Bruce Arena, 54. Arena has not said what his future plans are. He has coached the US team for the last eight years.

Klinsmann has faced German media criticism for his decision to live in the United States and commute on 11-hour flights several times a month.

His travelling time would be cut dramatically if he were to take the US job -- a short 45-minute drive from his home in Huntington Beach to the US training centre in nearby Carson.

REUTERS PDS RK1840