Union Berlin have hired former Koln and Hamburg boss Steffen Baumgart as their new head coach after sacking Bo Svensson last week.

Having gone eight games without a win to slip to 12th in the Bundesliga, Union parted company with Svensson on Friday, just seven months after appointing him.

Union will resume their campaign against Heidenheim – who currently occupy the relegation play-off place and are just seven points behind them – on January 11.

They will return to action under their fourth permanent head coach in the last two seasons after handing the reins to Baumgart, who spent two years at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei during his playing career between 2002 and 2004.

"I'm very much looking forward to returning to the Bundesliga and to Union," Baumgart said in a statement. "It's certainly an advantage to know the club and many people here well. 

"We don't have much time to prepare and will work intensively with the players to be prepared for the tasks ahead of us."

Baumgart's last managerial role was with Hamburg, taking over in February but failing to lead the fallen giants to promotion from the 2.Bundesliga before being dismissed last month.