Former Bundesliga and Russian league manager Sandro Schwarz was named head coach of the New York Red Bulls on Thursday by the Major League Soccer club.

The 45-year-old German played more than 200 matches over 11 seasons as a midfielder before joining the coaching ranks in 2009.

Schwarz guided FSV Mainz 05 from 2017-2019, then spent two seasons coaching Dynamo Moscow before returning to the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin in June 2022. He was fired this past April with Hertha at the bottom of the table.

"We're very pleased to welcome Sandro to the club," Red Bulls head of sport Jochen Schneider said in a statement.

"Sandro is a great leader that fits our culture and his head coaching experience in Europe fits with what we're trying to accomplish. We're excited to get him here and begin to work towards success in 2024."

Schwarz replaces Troy Lesesne, who took over in May when current Red Bull Salzburg manager Gerhard Struber and New York mutually parted ways.

New York was ousted in the first round of the MLS playoffs this year by Cincinnati.

"I look forward to joining the club and getting started soon," Schwarz said. "I have a lot of motivation to accomplish many great things with this club and I'm excited to get to work for the upcoming season."

Schwarz is tasked with making a champion out of a New York Red Bulls side that dates to the inaugural MLS season in 1996 and has reached the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons but reached its only MLS Cup final in 2008, losing to the Columbus Crew.