Hannover have named Thomas Doll as their new head coach after parting company with Andre Breitenreiter following their 5-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Borussia Dortmund.

The 52-year-old, who laced his boots for Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, among others, during his playing days, has agreed a contract until 30 June 2020

"Thomas Doll has worked successfully at all his previous clubs and has always achieved his targets, both in terms of avoiding relegation as well as fighting for titles and international qualification," said Hannover sporting director Horst Heldt.

Andre Breitenreiter departed Hannover after just under two years as head coach. - Oliver Hardt/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images

Club hierarchy appeared to have backed Breitenreiter over the winter break – bringing in defender Kevin Akpoguma and winger Nicolai Müller – but have ended their association with the former Schalke boss after their second game of 2019.

A former Hannover player, Breitenreiter took charge of the club in March 2017, and they finished that season unbeaten to earn a return to the Bundesliga. The Reds finished 13th in their first year back in the top flight, but they have found life much tougher this season.

They have won only two league games this season – at home to Wolfsburg and Stuttgart – but they have failed to win any of their last eight matches. That run included four home defeats in a row in which they failed to score a single goal. Having also lost 1-0 against promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf in front of their own supporters in their final game before the winter break, fresh defeats against Bremen and Dortmund meant the end of Breitenreiter’s time in charge.

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