BASEL, Switzerland -- Swiss champion Basel has appointed Urs Fischer as coach on a two-year contract.
Fischer replaces former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa who was released from his contract on Wednesday. Sousa is expected to coach Fiorentina.
Bilder der PK und Vetragsunterzeichnung mit Urs Fischer. #fcbasel #fischer pic.twitter.com/3CiTtsRtOU
- FC Basel 1893 (@FC_Basel) June 18, 2015
Fischer led Thun to a fourth-place finish in the Swiss League last season, and has also coached Zurich.
The 49-year-old Swiss becomes the fifth Basel coach in six seasons since Christian Gross's 10-year spell ended.
All four of Fischer's predecessors led Basel to the Swiss league trophy which it has now won six successive times.
Fischer will lead Basel into the Champions League third qualifying round, needing to beat two opponents to reach the group stage.
Basel reached the Round of 16 last season, exiting against Porto.