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Nuremberg hire Verbeek

October 22, 2013

Bundesliga soccer club Nuremberg have appointed Gertjan Verbeek as their new head coach. The southern German club is still looking for its first win of the season.

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Gertjan Verbeek looks on during the Johan Cruyff Shield match between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax Amsterdam at the Amsterdam Arena on July 27, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images

The struggling Bavarian side confirmed the appointment of the 51-year-old Dutchman on Tuesday morning. Verbeek was to take his first training session later in the day.

Nuremberg's sporting director, Martin Bader, said the club's board had signed off on Verbeek's appointment at a Monday night meeting.

Verbeek, whose contract runs until the end of the 2014-15 season, also brought in fellow Dutchman Raymond Libregts as his assistant.

"I have fallen in love with this club. I am pleased to have the chance to work here," Verbeek told a press conference at Nuremberg's home ground.

"We want to play an attractive brand of football," he added. He also pledged to work on what already appeared to be very serviceable German.

The move follows much speculation about possible successors to former coach Michael Wiesinger, who was sacked just over a fortnight ago, following the club's 5-0 defeat at home to Hamburg.

The club, which currently trails in 16th spot in the Bundesliga standings, has yet to win a competitive match this season, but has drawn six of its nine league matches, including last weekend's 1-1 draw in Frankfurt.

Nuremberg were also knocked out of the German DFB Cup by second-division side Sandhausen in the first round of play.

Verbeek, who will make his Bundesliga debut in Stuttgart on Friday, is regarded as a disciplinarian who can get make the most out of limited resources.

His most recent post was with the Dutch side AK Alkmaar. Verbeek, who has also had stints with Heracles Almelo and Heerenveen, was sacked by Alkmaar at the end of September.

pfd/kms, ipj (dpa, SID)