Danish trainer Kasper Hjulmand was on Thursday named as Thomas Tuchel's successor as coach of Bundesliga side Mainz 05 after signing a three-year contract.

"The club fits perfectly with my own playing philosophy and for me a move to Mainz was a decision of the heart," said Hjulmand in a statement.

The 42-year-old, who was named Denmark's coach of the year in 2011, joins from Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjaelland, who he steered to the league title in 2012 and a place in the Champions League.

"Kasper Hjulmand fits exactly into the profile we were looking for in a coach," said Mainz's manager Christian Heidel.

"He is a highly professional, meticulous coach and an advocate of attacking football."

Hjulmand takes over after Tuchel's shock announcement last weekend that he was quitting having steered Mainz to seventh in the league and a Europa League spot, even though he still had a year left on his Mainz contract.