Bundesliga strugglers Hoffenheim have appointed 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach.
Nagelsmann had been due to take the role in July, with Huub Stevens tasked with keeping the club up this season.
However, Stevens resigned on Wednesday after less than four months in the job due to heart problems, and the club have decided under-19 coach Nagelsmann will step up to the senior role ahead of schedule on a three-year contract.
Hoffenheim's managing director Dr Peter Gorlich told the club's official website: "We have a duty of care to the club and of course the people involved.
Official! 28-year-old Julian #Nagelsmann takes over as #tsg head coach. Good luck, Julian. #tsg1899 pic.twitter.com/GmPjrSc6ys
- TSG Hoffenheim EN (@achtzehn99_en) February 11, 2016
"Together with Julian, we again carefully weighed up all the risks we considered in the autumn and have now decided the best way is for him to start earlier.
"He is keen and he can also give the team fresh impetus."
Nagelsmann, who the club expect will pass his senior coaching examinations soon, said: "It's a big challenge, of course, made harder by the current points situation. But I am looking forward to working with the team."
Hoffenheim are currently joint-bottom of the Bundesliga table and Nagelsmann's first match in charge will be at 16th-placed Werder Bremen on Saturday.