Stuttgart appoint Tim Walter as head coach for next season

Walter, who joins from second division's Holstein Kiel, is Stuttgart's third permanent coach in a year, succeeding Tayfun Korkut, who was sacked in October, and Markus Weinzierl, who left last month. Nico Willig was interim coach for a month.

A former Bayern Munich youth coach, Walter will have to wait and see which tier he will be coaching in.

Stuttgart have managed to avoid direct relegation by finishing 16th but are playing second division's Union Berlin in a two-legged relegation/promotion playoff later this week and next. "It was pretty clear in our talks that Tim Walter's approach and concept of attacking football really fit well with Stuttgart," said Stuttgart head of sport Thomas Hitzlsperger.

"Together we want the focus to be on bringing through our own talent, and Tim has a wealth of experience and, above all, conviction, in that regard."