Coach Bruno Labbadia takes helm at Hamburg

Last positioned Hamburg have appointed Bruno Labbadia as their new head coach with immediate effect, the "HSV" confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday.

After two straight defeats under caretaker Peter Knaebel, who is actually the club's sporting director, Hamburg reacted and appointed Labbadia, who already was in charge at the "HSV" from 2009 until 2010. The former German international put pen to paper on a deal until June 2016 to become Hamburg's 7th coach in two years.

Labbadia awaits a hard task as Hamburg sit on the last position of the Bundesliga standings with just six rounds to play and a four-point gap to safety. The "HSV" is the only top-flight club that never relegated in the Bundesliga history.

However, Labbadia's contract will remain valid in case of Hamburg's relegation into the second division. "With Bruno Labbadia we signed a strong coach, who knows the relegation battle, " Hamburg's CEO Dietmar Beiersdorfer said.

The 49-year-old coach and his co-assistant Eddy Soezer already guided the teams training this morning. "I expect full dedication and passion in the coming weeks for all those involved. We now have to return quickly to winning ways. The situation is definitely not easy but it's a challenge and we can make it," Hamburg's new coach said.

Labbadia knows the Bundesliga business very well as he already coached, besides Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart.

The "HSV" face Bremen for the Northern derby at the 29th round on Sunday. Endite