Paderborn appoints ex-Germany midfielder Effenberg as coach

By foxsports
Published

PADERBORN, Germany --

Former Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg is taking over as coach of second-division club Paderborn.

The club says the 47-year-old Effenberg has signed a deal through June 2017.

Effenberg, who will be coaching for the first time, says ''for a start in this profession Paderborn is a top address, as is shown also by the impressive careers of my predecessors.''

Paderborn was relegated after one season in the Bundesliga last May. Coach Andre Breitenreiter subsequently left for Schalke, currently third.

Paderborn fired Markus Gellhaus as coach last week after slipping to 15th in the second division.

Effenberg's playing career ended at Qatari side Al-Arabi in 2004.

The competitive midfielder had played two spells each at Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach, and he also lined up at Wolfsburg and Italian club Fiorentina.