Arnesen steps into vacant Hamburg role

Frank Arnesen has announced that he will be the next coach of Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.

The former Denmark international and current sporting director of Hamburg has increased his responsibility at the club after failing to find a suitable replacement for Michael Oenning during the international break.

The Bundesliga side had been in a rush to find a new man for the job after the German Football League (DFB) rejected their request to extend Rodolfo Cardoso’s stay as caretaker boss.

“I will fill the role as coach because that is the best for HSV,” Arnesen told Hamburg’s official website.

“I went through all the possible alternatives and came to the realisation that the right coach for HSV is currently not available.”

“I want to have the coach who is best for the HSV and not take the second or third choice, just so we present a solution.”

Cardoso took over the role at Hamburg following the dismissal of Oenning in September, guiding the team in two league matches, including a 2-1 victory at Stuttgart.

However, the 42-year-old does not have a coaching license, which would make it impossible for him to guide the team in Sunday’s league game at Freiburg.

Cardoso nonetheless has been re-appointed as assistant coach, and is expected to play a considerable role in leading the team.

Arnesen, 55, was an assistant to Bobby Robson at PSV from 1991 to 1993, in what was his only experience in the dugout.

He became Hamburg’s sporting director after leaving Chelsea at the end of the last season and was responsible for a very active transfer campaign.

Arnesen’s signings have yet to come to fruition, however; the Imtech Arena outfit are rock bottom in the Bundesliga standings, with four points from eight games.