Skibbe secures Berlin job

Hertha Berlin have appointed Michael Skibbe as their new coach on a two-and-a-half year deal, the Bundesliga club announced on Thursday.

The 46-year-old will replace Markus Babbel, who was sacked on Sunday after a falling out with general manager Michael Preetz, at the helm of the 2. Bundesliga champions.

Skibbe joins from Eskisehirspor with the Turkish Super Lig side reportedly paid 250,000 euros in compensation, and has been given a deal until the end of the 2013-14 season.

Babbel’s former assistant Rainer Widmayer, who took charge of Hertha during their 3-1 win over Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal, has also left the club.

Skibbe takes charge of a Hertha side sitting 11th, just four points clear of the drop zone, in the Bundesliga, and he said they belong near the top of the league.

“Hertha belongs in the upper third of the Bundesliga. They have played a very strong season so far,” he said.

His appointment marks a return to the Bundesliga after spells at Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Skibbe was also an assistant to former Germany boss Rudi Voller from 2000 to 2004.