Bulgaria's new coach Lothar Matthaeus promised Thursday to revive the team and to try to convince Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov to return to the squad.Berbatov quit the national team in May citing personal reasons and his absence is seen by many as having contributed to its weak start to European Championship qualifying.
Matthaeus pledged to do his best in persuading Berbatov to come back, saying "no matter what the motives of a player might be, he should always be ready to play for his national team."
The 49-year-old former Germany midfielder formally signed his one-year contract Thursday with an option for two more years. He replaces Stanimir Stoilov, who resigned after the team's defeats to England and Montenegro in the opening Euro 2012 qualifiers.
"It won't be easy at all after Bulgaria's losses to England and Montenegro ... but this is the great challenge for me," Matthaeus told reporters.
He said he will introduce an attacking style of play and voiced his belief that Bulgaria will make it to Euro 2012 and also to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"I think Bulgaria has the capacity to become at least second in the Euro 2012 qualification group," Matthaeus said.
Bulgaria is in Group G with England, Montenegro, Switzerland and Wales.
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