MUNICH, Germany – Outgoing Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has confirmed that he is close to signing on as coach of Switzerland.

“I expect to sign in Switzerland within the next three weeks,” Hitzfeld told Bayern’s Web site Tuesday.

Hitzfeld met with a delegation from the Swiss soccer federation over the weekend and agreed on most details of the future contract, the Web site said.

Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn is stepping down after the European Championship in June, which is being co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.

Hitzfeld decided in January not to renew his contract with Bayern and will be replaced by former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann at the end of the season.

Hitzfeld took over as Bayern coach on February 1, his second stint at Germany’s top club. During his first stint between 1998-2004, Hitzfeld won the 2001 Champions League title, four Bundesliga titles and the German Cup. He also won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, matching the achievement of Ernst Happel, who won the European Cup with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburger SV in 1983.

He began his coaching career in Switzerland, where he claimed four titles at Grasshoppers.

[Copyright ap 2008]