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 'Burnt out' Klinsmann steps asideAssistant Loew takes charge of Germany
 Klinsmann and his German team exceeded expectations as hosts of the World Cup finals. BERLIN, Germany -- German national coach Juergen Klinsmann, who led his young team to a surprising third place finish in the World Cup, stood down on Wednesday and will be replaced by his assistant Joachim Loew. "I feel burned out," said Klinsmann, adding that he would take a six-month vacation and spend more time with his famliy at his California home. Loew, 46, has been Klinsmann's assistant for the past two years and has signed a deal which runs until Euro 2008. "This was not an easy decision," Klinsmann, fighting back tears, told a news conference in Frankfurt. "I would like to thank everybody for two exciting, two wonderful years," the 41-year-old said. Loew, a former midfielder and Bundesliga coach, pledged to continue with the philosophy that he and Klinsmann put in place over the past two years. "That's the only way we can achieve a lasting place among the very best in the world," Loew said. Klinsmann, who had been widely criticized before the finals for living in America, had been urged to stay on after Germany beat Portugal in the third place match on Saturday, but he had said he needed to consult with his family before making a decision. All 23 German players, 93 percent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of his harshest critics have said they wanted him to continue. Germany had started the World Cup with low expectations after a disappointing build-up but delighted their fans and neutral observers with strong attacking play. A quarterfinal victory over Argentina on penalties was followed by a 2-0 extra-time defeat to eventual winners Italy in the last four. Saturday's 3-1 victory over Portugal in Stuttgart rounded off a superb tournament for Klinsmann and his team and they were given a heroes reception in Berlin on Sunday. The 41-year-old Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as a player with Germany in 1990, took over as coach from Rudi Voller after Germany's poor showing at the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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