Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed that former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Bosz has been appointed as the Bundesliga club s next coach.
Leverkusen sit ninth in the Bundesliga table heading into the winter break and, despite securing a third win in four league games by beating Hertha Berlin on Saturday, Heiko Herrlich has been relieved of his duties.
And the club have revealed that Bosz, whose successful 2016-17 campaign with Ajax led to a short-lived stint at Dortmund, which came to an end in December 2017, will take over in the new year, having signed a contract until 2020.
Heiko Herrlich gave our team an important boost last year after a very difficult season, Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller said in a statement.
Until the end we had the conviction and the will to make it with him as head coach. Unfortunately, a stagnation in the development of the team is no longer deniable.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes added: Bosz stands for offensive, fast-paced and inspiring football.
He has always shown a special passion for working with young players, that s why he fits in very well with us.
Heiko Herrlich has been relieved of his coaching duties at .
Peter Bosz will take over in January.
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en)
Bosz took charge of Ajax in July 2016, and guided the Eredivisie club to the Europa League final – where they were beaten 2-0 by Jose Mourinho s Manchester United – and a second-placed finish in the Dutch top flight, before taking over at Dortmund.
A seven-match unbeaten run in the league saw Dortmund flying at the start of the campaign, but an eight-game winless streak and no victories in the Champions League group stage resulted in Bosz losing his job at Signal Iduna Park.
