Rangnick gets Schalke job

Former Hoffenheim boss Ralf Rangnick has been appointed as Felix Magath’s successor at Bundesliga club Schalke.

Despite steering the club into the Champions League quarter-finals, Magath was sacked by Schalke on Wednesday due to their poor domestic record, which sees them sit in 10th place in the Bundesliga, just seven points above the relegation zone.

It will be Rangnick’s second spell at the club after season-long stint in which he guided the side to the German Cup final and a second place in the league.

A statement on the club’s official site read: “FC Schalke 04 have a new head coach in Ralf Rangnick and he will be presented at the Royal on Monday March, 21.”

“The 52-year-old signed a contract at Schalke until June 30, 2014 and his first game in charge will be away at FC St. Pauli on Friday April 1, 2011.”

Rangnick stepped down as Hoffenheim boss in January after the club sold midfielder Luis Gustavo to rivals Bayern Munich against his wishes.

The 52-year-old guided Hoffenheim from the lower reaches of German football in to the top-flight during his four years at the Rhein-Neckar Arena, and has also coached Stuttgart and Hannover.