Hoffenheim have appointed the youngest manager in Bundesliga history by naming 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann their new boss.

Nagelsmann, who was the club's Under-19s coach, was due to take up the post at the end of the season, but after Huub Stevens was forced to resign with health problems yesterday, he has stepped up to the senior role early on a three-year contract.

Hoffenheim's managing director Dr Peter Gorlich told the club website: "Together with Julian, we again carefully weighed up all the risks we considered in the autumn and have now decided the best way is for him to start earlier.

"He is keen and he can also give the team fresh impetus."

Nagelsmann added: "It's a big challenge, of course, made harder by the current points situation."

Hoffenheim are level on points with Hannover at the bottom of the Bundesliga, five points adrift of the relegation playoff spot, having won just twice in the league all season.