Michael Frontzek will be responsible for trying to keep Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga after he was named coach following the sacking of Tayfun Korkut earlier on Monday.

Frontzek, who was Hanover assistant coach in 2004-05, takes over a demoralised side coming off a 4-0 humbling by Bayer Leverkusen which extended their winless run to 13 matches.

They are just two points above third-from-bottom Paderborn, who presently occupy the place which would see them contest a relegation play-off, and three ahead of second-from-bottom Stuttgart.

The former German international defender, a member of the Euro '92 squad which ended up losing to Denmark in the final, signed a five-match contract, with his first challenge coming against Hoffenheim on Saturday.

"Michael Frontzek has our full confidence in achieving the goal of retaining our Bundesliga status," said Hanover owner Martin Kind.

Korkut, 41, who had been in charge for 16 months, is the eighth coach to be dismissed in the Bundesliga this season.

Mirko Slomko, then Joe Zinnbauer were sacked at Hamburg and Werder Bremen's Robin Dutt, Jens Keller of Schalke 04, Stuttgart's Armin Veh, Kasper Hjulmand at Mainz and Jos Luhukay from Hertha Berlin were all also fired.