体坛英语新闻：Berlin sack Covic and appoint Klinsmann as caretaker

BERLIN, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hertha Berlin have parted company with Ante Covic and installed Jurgen Klinsmann as interim coach until the end of the season, the Bundesliga outfit announced on Wednesday.

Only three weeks after Klinsmann was appointed to Hertha Berlin's supervisory board, the 55 year old former German head coach will also have to take the reins as a head coach for the remainder of the season as Ante Covic was released due to a poor performance.

"The decision was extremely difficult for us because Ante have been part of Hertha for more than 20 years," Hertha's sporting manager Michel Preetz said.

The "Old Lady" slumped to the 15th position and sit in touching distance to the bottom three. This season, Covic recorded only three wins, two draws and seven defeats.

"Ultimately, in terms of development and recent results, we felt there was need for action," Preetz added.

Hertha named Klinsmann as their new coach until the end of the season. The former Bundesliga player, who made more than 200 appearances, stood from July 2011 until November 2016 at the sidelines of the United States men's national team. His last spell as a coach in the Bundesliga was with Bayern Munich where he was in charge from July 2008 until April 2017.

"We are delighted to have in Jurgen an exceptional, charismatic and proven football expert as our head coach. With him we want to return back on track. The team is now set and will have to step up," said Preetz.

"It is an honor and an exciting task which I will face highly motivated," Klinsmann said.

Hertha Berlin's caretake will face struggling Borussia Dortmund in the the 13th round of Bundesliga action on Saturday.