Hoffenheim coach Stevens resigns on health grounds

Hoffenheim have confirmed that Huub Stevens has resigned as coach on health grounds

Stevens has resigned with heart problems after only 10 league games in charge with the club seven points from safety.

The club are to hold a press conference on Wednesday when they are set to announce who will be in charge for Saturday's league game at Werder Bremen.

Hoffenheim are second from bottom of the table and in serious danger of being relegated after eight seasons in Germany's top flight.

The club has already appointed youth team trainer Julian Nagelsmann as head coach of the senior side for next season and, if the club stays up, he will become the youngest coach in Bundesliga history at just 28 years of age. Their 2-0 defeat at home to Darmstadt on Sunday was the final straw for Stevens.

The 62-year-old Dutchman, who only had a contract until the end of the season, had forged a reputation for keeping struggling teams up after rescuing Stuttgart last season.

He only took over from Markus Gisdol in October with the club, backed by billionaire software mogul Dietmar Hopp, in their current league position of 17th.