BERLIN, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mainz 05 moved to reshape their season on Sunday by appointing Urs Fischer as head coach, handing the former Union Berlin manager a contract running until 2028 as the club looks to halt its slide and secure Bundesliga survival.

Fischer succeeds Bo Henriksen and takes charge with immediate effect, beginning preparations for an upcoming UEFA Conference League fixture later this week. He is joined by long-time assistant Markus Hoffmann and video analyst Sebastian Podsiadly, a coaching team he has worked with for several years.

"Urs Fischer has consistently shown at every professional station that he can organise and develop teams," said Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel. "With his calm but empathetic manner, he knows how to reach a dressing room. His record and experience made him a highly sought-after coach, and we are delighted that he committed to Mainz without hesitation."

The 59-year-old returns to the Bundesliga after more than a year away from management. Fischer began his coaching career at FC Zurich before guiding Thun to their first-ever Europa League qualification. He later won multiple domestic titles with Basel, including two league championships and the Swiss Cup.

His most prominent success came at Union Berlin, where he led the club from the second division into the Bundesliga and, in successive seasons, into the Conference League, Europa League and finally the Champions League. In 2023, Fischer was named German coach of the year. He left Union in November of that year and had been without a club since.

"There are no easy tasks in football, but that is exactly what makes it interesting," Fischer said. "The discussions with Christian Heidel and Niko Bungert convinced me. Mainz fits me as a club, and I am convinced we can turn things around together as a team."

Fischer will be officially presented at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Mainz currently sits bottom of the Bundesliga table, with six points from 13 games. ■