Berlin - Juergen Klinsmann has failed in his legal action against the Berlin daily taz newspaper following a photo mock-up showing him in a crucifixion scene for its Easter edition, the newspaper revealed Tuesday.

The Bayern Munich coach took his case before a Munich court after he was shown being crucified on the cross in the paper's edition on April 11. However, the court ruled against the 44-year-old former German international.

"It was a satirical expression of opinion which did not have religion as its core comment but rather dealt with the professional success of the applicant as a football coach," the Taz quoted the court as saying.

The headline above the photo - "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" - was a song from the 1979 Monty Python comedy film Life of Brian, in which a young Jewish man is mistaken for Jesus Christ.

"From Germany's superstar to Bayern's bogeyman," read a sub-heading.

Klinsmann claimed the depiction was a massive breach of his personal rights due to the serious religious nature of the satirical piece but Taz said the court felt the story was attempting to show his professional demise.

Klinsmann has come under pressure at Bayern following his side's humiliating exit at the hands of Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The defending league champions also trail VfL Wolfsburg by three points with six Bundesliga games remaining. (dpa)