Struggling German giants Hamburg appointed Bruno Labbadia as their fourth manager of the season on Wednesday in a last-ditch bid to avoid relegation.
The 49-year-old replaces Peter Knaebel, appointed on a caretaker basis after last month’s sacking of Joe Zinnbauer, who in turn replaced Mirko Slomka last September.
Knaebel was fired after only two games in charge, both resulting in defeats with no goals scored.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Wolfsburg left Hamburg propping up the table with 25 points, four away from the safety zone with six games remaining.
But this is Labbadia’s second stint at Hamburg, having been sacked in April 2010 after less than a year in charge.
“We’ve decided on this change because we feel the question of manager is the most important,” Hamburg boss Dietmar Beiersdorf said
“With Bruno Labbadia we’ve got a very good coach who is also very experienced in a relegation fight.”
“There’s no time to lose,” ventured Labbadia, a former top striker with various sides in Germany’s top flight, after overseeing his first training session.
Ahead of the derby game away to Werder Bremen on Sunday he promised: “We’ll be ready for the derby at Bremen and also concentrated on the games to come.”
He called for “total commitment and passion from everyone at the club in the coming weeks” in order to “quickly get back on the path to success”.
Hamburg are the only club never to have left the top flight.
“The fact is we’re 18th and we’re where we deserve to be, the table doesn’t lie,” said Labbadia, who has sent his wife on holiday to Mallorca so he can focus on his task.
“I’m not interested in the whys and what-ifs.
“My wife has a birthday today and I sent her straight off on holiday yesterday.
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