German football fans, down in the dumps after their country's World Cup semi-final loss to Italy, were Wednesday waiting with bated breath to see if the man who has transformed the team's previously stolid mentality would stay at the helm.
Jurgen Klinsmann, World Cup winner as a player in 1990, fell short in his aim of emulating Franz Beckenbauer, who lifted the trophy both as player and coach with 'Die Mannschaft' - and his future is now in doubt as he and his family live in California.
"He needs time to discuss matters with his family. I know how important that is to him. I hope he come out with a positive decision," said outgoing German Football Federation (DFB) chairman Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder.
"He has brought the team the benefits of his positive aura and optimism," said Mayer-Vorfelder, who insisted that "I hope he can carry on transmititng that to the team."
Klinsmann, 41, was a controversial choice of coach when he took over from former team-mate Rudi Voller two years ago after a disastrous Euro 2004 showing, which followed a surprise run to the 2002 World Cup final.
The former Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Tottenham and Bayern Munich striker had no previous coaching experience, but his adoption of American nutritional and psychological training methods has won widespread approval in a conservative country generally slow to adopt new trends.
With Mayer-Vorfelder about to give way to Theo Zwanziger at the DFB, Klinsmann is torn between underpinning what he has achieved so far with a young side which backs him to the hilt and spending more time in the United States, his domestic base, with his American wife.
Moreover, media reports on Tuesday said the United States were in talks with Klinsmann to lead them to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with the US Federation allegedly ready to dangle a multimillion deal before him as current incumbent Bruce Arena returns to club management.
Asked about contract talks with Klinsmann, Mayer-Vorfelder said the DFB would thrash out the details in committee with his current deal expiring this month.
Earlier, Klinsmann himself said: "My contract situation is irrelevant. I need time to talk with my family about it."
Beckenbauer insisted Tuesday that "it would be a shame if he heads back to California - he has a young team which backs him. Klinsmann must continue," a sentiment backed by skipper Michael Ballack.
For Mayer-Vorfelder "if Jurgen decides to carry on ... the basic structures (he has introduced) will stay in place and be built upon. "Klinsmann has awakened something in this team. He has in some way a duty to carry on with that but he has to take the decision. The team is not yet at peak of its capability."
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said that "Klinsmann gave the team self-belief and top fitness - and he brought joy to Germany. "Obviously defeat hurts. We had hoped to make the final but I think we can all be proud of the team and its performance, which was at a very high level. "We met an Italy right at the peak of their powers," Bierhoff said.