BERLIN, June 19 (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen trainer Christoph Daum said on Monday he was interested in coaching Germany's national team after Erich Ribbeck's strong hints he would quit following a dismal German performance at Euro 2000.

Daum, who took Leverkusen to within an inch of the Bundesliga title this year before being pipped by Bayern Munich on goal difference, said he intended to see out his current contract, wich runs until 2001, but did not rule out holding both jobs at once.

"It's the biggest thing for a player to be in the national side - why should it be any different for a manager?" he told German television.

German media have singled out Ribbeck for scathing criticism, particularly now the 1996 European Champions' defence of their title looks forlorn after a 1-0 defeat against England at the weekend left them scrambling to qualify for the next phase.

Daum said he had already spoken to Gerhard Meyer-Vorfelder, the deputy head of the German football association, at the team's Euro 2000 training camp in the Netherlands.

Online bookmaker INTERTOPS has already installed Daum as third favourite for the job behind Benfica's German trainer Jupp Heynkes and Kaiserslautern boss Otto Rehhagel.