Bundesliga strugglers Mainz hire coach Fischer

Struggling Mainz have hired former Union Berlin manager Urs Fischer to fill their vacant head-coaching position, the club announced Sunday. 

Mainz fired coach Bo Henriksen on Wednesday. The club sit last in the Bundesliga table, with just one win from 13 matches. 

Fischer, 59, has been jobless since stepping down as Union boss in November 2023. At Union, Fischer oversaw a stunning rise from the second division to the Champions League. 

Union improved consistently during Fischer's stint at the club, ending in 11th in their debut top-flight campaign before finishing seventh, fifth and fourth. 

Their fourth-placed finish meant a shock qualification for Europe's top competition and games against Real Madrid and Napoli. 

The Berliners nosedived in Fischer's final season, losing 13 of 14 games before the Swiss coach agreed to leave the club. 

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm convinced that we'll turn things around as a team," Fischer said in a statement.