Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus: 'I'm not dead!'

German authorities classed the most capped player in Germany's history as 'deceased' after they couldn't get hold of him

Lothar Matthaus pictured at the Bundesliga fixture between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich (GETTY IMAGES)

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has admitted he is “outraged” after authorities classified him “deceased” when they were unable to contact him over court papers regarding alimony money towards his ex-wife.

Matthaus is currently registered in Hungary having spent time coaching in the country as well as in Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria and South America.

But after German authorities failed to lacate him in order to send Munich court papers, the letter was stamped with the word “deceased” at the end of it.

"That is outrageous," the 52-year-old told German newspaper Bild on Thursday. "Everyone can see that I am alive, whether on TV or on the pitch."

Matthaus made an incredible 150 appearances for Germany playing predominantly as a box-to-box midfielder, although he did switch later in his career to more of a sweeper role.

He was one of the sport’s biggest names not just in Germany, but in the world thanks to successful spells with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, winning seven Bundesliga titles, two Uefa Cups and a Serie A title. His silverware highlight though came when Germany triumphed at the 1990 Fifa World Cup, having finished runners-up on the past two occasions.

He has since dropped off the radar though, travelling to coach a number of teams across the continent with Rapid Vienna, Partizan Belgrade and Red Bull Salzburg just a selection of the clubs he has taken charge of, as well as both the Hungarian and Bulgarian national sides.

Matthaus has made no secret of his desire to return to the top flight of German football though, having been critical in the past that clubs in the Bundesliga have been reluctant to take him on. He was recently linked with the vacant role at Hamburg, though the club eventually decided that Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk was the man to take them forward.

Matthaus was actually in attendance at the BayArena for the Bundesliga clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.