体坛英语新闻：Cologne appoint Veh as sporting director

BERLIN, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cologne have signed Armin Veh as their new sporting director, the struggling Bundesliga club announced in an official statement on Wednesday.

The "Billy Goats" have filled the vacant position of the sporting director with former Bundesliga coach Armin Veh, who has penned a contract until June 2020 and will take the helm officially on December 11.

"With Armin Veh we have won a man, who fulfills our criteria for this position perfectly. He has achieved successes and brings a lot of experience with critical situations. Besides, he is communicative and a leader who fits into our team," Cologne president Werner Spinner said.

Veh will indeed need his long-term experience to help the struggling "Billy Goats" , who still wait for their first win, after 14 rounds in the Bundesliga season 2017-2018. Due to the poor results, Cologne head coach Peter Stoeger had to step down after four years at the sidelines.

Hence, Cologne is now on the hunt for a head coach as youth, and now interims coach Stefan Ruthenbeck will only be in charge until the winter break, which ends on Jan. 12.

"I am really looking forward to start a sustainable project at Cologne. Those responsible have immediately inspired me. It is a huge challenge and at the same time a great opportunity to make something happen at this fascinating and traditional club," Veh told the club's official homepage.

The 56-year-old former coach knows the Bundesliga business inside out. Armin has the experience of more than 600 competitive matches and lifted the Bundesliga title in 2007 with Stuttgart. He also coached Augsburg, Wolfsburg, Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, who have been guided into the top flight by Veh in 2012.

With the signing as Cologne's sporting director Armin Veh will retire as a head coach. The designated sporting director will be official presented in a press conference on Monday.

Struggling Cologne sit currently on the last place of the Bundesliga standings. They have a 11 point gap to safety and face Freiburg at the 15th round on Sunday.