Hannover appoints Thomas Schaaf as new head coach

Thomas Schaaf takes the vacant coach position at Hannover until 2017, the struggling Bundesliga club confirmed in an official statement on Monday.

   Seven days after former coach Michal Frontzeck resigned out of the blue, Hannover found a new coach with Thomas Schaaf, who put pen to paper on a deal until June 2017.

   "During our talks it quickly became clear that Thomas fully identifies with this task. His biography and experience speak for itself. He has successfully worked for decades in the Bundesliga," Hannover's sporting director Martin Bader said.

   Thomas Schaaf had coached Werder Bremen for nine years, during which he lifted the German Cup three times (1999, 2004, 2009) as well as the Bundesliga title in 2004. After his long spell at Bremen Schaaf took the reins in Frankfurt in July 2014 before he resigned on May 2015, despite a stipulated contract until June 2016, due to the lack of support from the club bosses.

   "In the last days I had good talks with those responsible at Hannover. I am aware of the difficult task. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to this challenge. Together with the team we can achieve to stay up," Schaaf said.

   Hannover sit currently on the fore last position of the Bundesliga standings. The "Reds" reaped only four wins, two draws but suffered 11 defeats in overall 17 Bundesliga games to date.

   Thomas Schaaf's men encounter newly promoted Darmstadt for their kick-off of the second half of the season on Jan. 23.  Endi