Yaounde: Cameroon have begun the search for a new coach to replace Frenchman Paul Le Guen who stepped down after their worst World Cup performance in South Africa, senior federation (Fecafoot) officials told state radio.

Although no official contact has yet been made, Fecafoot president Iya Mohammad said Germany's most-capped player Lothar Matthaeus and former Ivory Coast coach, Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, were among the leading contenders.

"I've never met Lothar Matthaeus but his candidature has been forwarded to us as well as that of former Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic and some 10 others," he said.

End of season

The 49-year-old Matthaeus, who has 150 caps and was World Player of the Year in 1990, has coached several clubs in Europe and one in Brazil as well as Hungary's national team and managed Israeli club Maccabi Netanya until the end of last season.

Halilhodzic, 57, played for Yugoslavia and has coached several clubs after starting out at Raja Casablanca including Paris St Germain.

He was sacked as Ivory Coast coach in February after their African Nations Cup quarter-final exit.

Iya added the Cameroon soccer federation had begun a series of meetings this week to agree to a profile which must be met by any candidate with emphasis on offering a long-term contract.

"Already, I think we need a new coach who will accept at least a four-year contract," Iya said.

"We must end this series of recruiting coaches on short-term contracts and demanding immediate results.

Profile match

"We need a trainer that will spend enough time with the players, know them and build a formidable, strong team."

The Fecafoot president said he did not oppose recruiting a Cameroonian coach, although such a candidate would have to fit the profile set out and prove beyond all doubt that he could withstand the immense pressure that comes with a high-profile job.

"In our country, this job comes with a lot of pressure," Iya said.

"I can tell you that even I come under strong pressure every day."

Fecafoot and Ministry of Sports sources told Reuters the next coach must be "a man with a strong personality" in order "to withstand pressure from within and outside the team".