Meier signs on with Kaiserslautern

Despite having spent the past few years in the second tier, Kaiserslautern are one of the Bundesliga's most storied clubs from days gone by, something that was not lost on Norbert Meier at the press conference where he was unveiled as the Red Devils' new bench boss.

"Now I am here at a tradition-filled club," the 58-year-old Meier told reporters. "This is nothing new for me, because so far I have only worked for venerable old clubs."

Meier added that despite the fact that he had taken a step down to the second division, and that his new club are not in the running for promotion, Kaiserslautern was a "very, very attractive address" in German football.

"You can be sure about one thing: I love football and I can focus very quickly on a new task," added Meier, who has signed a contract that will take him through the end of next season.

His appointment comes just days after his predecessor, Tayfun Korkmut, surprised many by asking management to release him from his duties, and with the team set to return to action in the league at the end of the month, the Red Devils were in a hurry to find a replacement.

Meier's appointment comes just 29 days after he was fired by Darmstadt after a bad run of form and with the team in 16th place in the Bundesliga. Since his sacking, they have dropped to last place.

pfd/ (dpa, SID)