Stuttgart sacked Bruno Labbadia as head coach this morning, before immediately appointing former player Thomas Schneider as his replacement.

Labbadia was dismissed after starting the new Bundesliga campaign with three successive defeats, the latest of which came in a 2-1 loss at Augsburg yesterday.

Stuttgart have decided to appoint from within to find a swift replacement, with Schneider promoted from coaching the under-17's to the senior side.

Schneider has signed a two-year deal at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, and the 40-year-old said he is relishing the chance to make a successful step up.

He told reporters at a press conference this afternoon: "I am really looking forward to the job in hand and am full of confidence."

Schneider's first priority is to overturn a 2-1 deficit to Croatian side Rijeka in the Europa League, with the second leg to come on Thursday in his debut as boss.