Hecking ready for Nurnberg struggle

Bundesliga strugglers Nurnberg have turned to Dieter Hecking to save them from relegation.

The 45-year old was named as the replacement for Michael Oenning, who was sacked on Monday with the club second from bottom of the table.

Hecking, who resigned as coach of Hannover in August, was presented as Nurnberg's new head coach at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. "A fire burns within me," Hecking said at his unveiling. "I am passionate about this new job."

He continued: "I don't have to stress once again that the situation is tough. A look a the table shows that."

A 3-0 defeat at Cologne on Sunday spelled the end for Oenning, who guided Nurnberg to promotion from the second division last term.

That loss left Nurnberg in serious danger of an immediate return to the second tier with just 12 points from the first 17 matches of the season, four adrift of third bottom Bochum.

They have lost their last four games without scoring a goal and conceding 12.

Hecking left his post at Hannover just two games into the new season after a defeat by Hertha Berlin and a draw with Mainz.

Hecking will have the winter break to prepare his squad and will take charge of his first game at Schalke on January 17.