Mainz promotes Sandro Schwarz to manager

A little more than a week after sacking Martin Schmidt, Mainz has promoted from within, naming former Under-23 boss Sandro Schwarz as the club's new manager.

After narrowly surviving the drop on goal differential courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at Koln, Mainz was quick to dismiss Schmidt on mutual terms. The club named his successor Wednesday with a statement on its website, adding that the Mainz-born gaffer has put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

With six defeats in his final 10 matches at Mainz, Schmidt - the 10th Bundesliga manager fired during the season - was the fall guy for a poor campaign. Management is hoping that Schwarz, who is well familiar with the club after repeated promotions through its academy ranks, can replicate a sixth-place finish from two season ago.

"I'm looking forward to the task ahead and working with the team," Schwarz told a press conference Wednesday. "I think I have the tools to succeed thanks to my experience with the Under-19s and Under-23s in the Oberliga, Regionalliga, and 3 Liga."

Schwarz, 38, spent three years as a midfielder in Mainz's academy prior to joining its first-team ranks in 1998, where he made 100 appearances before enlisting with lower-league side Rot-Weiss Essen.