Weinzierl takes over at Dawda Bah’s Augsburg

Dawda Bah’s manager at Augsburg, Jos Luhukay will take over as Hertha Berlin coach following the end of Otto Rehhagel’s short-term deal, with Markus Weinzierl replacing the Dutchman.

Luhukay, 48, joined Augsburg in March 2009 and led the Bavarian side to the German Cup semi-finals in his first full season in charge before guiding them to the top flight for the first time in their history in the following campaign, finishing runners-up to Bundesliga 2 champions Hertha.

The fuggerstadter secured their safety with a game to spare in 2011/12, while the Berlin club lost a controversial relegation play-off to Fortuna Dusseldorf. Victory over two legs was required to end Rehhagel’s short-term mission to rescue the troubled club in success, but an appeal has been launched after Fortuna fans threw flares onto the pitch after Ranisav Jovanovic’s crucial goal put Dusseldorf ahead on the night and invaded the field of play with two minutes of stoppage time remaining.

Augsburg have moved swiftly to replace the Dutch coach with 37-year-old Markus Weinzierl from newly-promoted 3. Liga side SSV Jahn Regensburg. A former Bayern Munich and Bayern II midfielder, Weinzierl took charge of the rothosen for four years and a play-off victory over Karlsruher SC on away goals saw Augsburg’s Bavarian neighbors secure Bundesliga 2 football for 2012/13.