Former National Coach Heads to Rome

Germany's ex-team coach Rudi Völler arrived in Rome on Tuesday to head up his former soccer club AS Roma after the unexpected resignation of manager Cesare Prandelli last week. "Roma and Italy have always been in my heart," the former forward told reporters. Völler who played for Roma between 1987 and 1991 is expected to sign a one-year contract on Wednesday. The club, which finished second in Serie A, earning an automatic slot in the group phase of the European Champions League, begins playing Sept. 11. Speaking at Rome's Fiumicino airport, Völler said he was "ready to immediately start work to oversee the first training session of the giallorossa." The move to Italy comes after Völler resigned his German national coaching post following the team's first-round elimination at the European Championship in June.