World Cup-winning legend, 45, issues come-and-get-me plea to Lazio to replace Maurizio Sarri after year unemployed

WORLD CUP winner Miroslav Klose has thrown his hat in the ring to replace Maurizio Sarri at Lazio.

Klose, 45, won the Jules Rimet with Germany in 2014 and is the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer with 16 goals in 24 matches.

EPA

Miroslav Klose has thrown his hat in the ring for the Lazio job[/caption]

Reuters

It comes after Maurizio Sarri shocked the club by quitting[/caption]

Getty

Klose is the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup finals[/caption]

After hanging up his playing boots at Lazio in 2016, Klose moved into coaching.

He spent two years as an assistant in the German national team set up before spending three years at his old club Bayern Munich.

Klose then picked up a job managing Austrian club Rheindorf Altach, but left after less than a year in charge after picking up only five wins from 24 matches.

And after just shy of a year being unemployed he has now said he would be willing to take over at Lazio following the shock resignation of Maurizio Sarri after the club’s Champions League last-16 exit.

Former Chelsea boss Sarri, 65, quit the Rome-based outfit after three league defeats on the spin.

Following the Italian’s shock resignation, Klose told t-online: “The club has to take the first step and approach me.

“But I am convinced that this will be the case in the near future. I am in good spirits, free and ready. I could get started straight away.”

Klose spent five seasons at Lazio from 2011, scoring 63 goals in 170 appearances.

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The former ace still has fond memories of the city, saying: “I’m there regularly and have lots of friends in Rome.

“That was always fantastic, the people and the fans always welcomed me with great openness. I always enjoy coming back there.

“It’s a great city, I like the Italian cuisine, the language.”

Klose also revealed how he almost ended up playing in England, he added: “Over the five years, the city and the club have really grown dear to me and my family with everything we were able to experience together.

“There were also other offers from England and Turkey in 2011.

“But as a family we clearly chose Rome and it was the best thing that could have happened to us.

“Not just because our children started school there and learned Italian.

“But I also learned that people live football differently in Italy.

“The community in the dressing room, the togetherness, that was sensational for me and totally new back then.”