BERLIN (AP) -Hans-Dieter Flick was appointed assistant coach of Germany's national team on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old, who is sports director at Austria's Red Bull Salzburg, will start work next week alongside coach Joachim Loew.
Loew said the choice represents a commitment to the attacking style and innovations that Juergen Klinsmann - whom he replaced after the World Cup - set in place during his two years as coach.
"His philosophy is attacking football and in his previous stops as a coach he always found new ways to do things," said Loew, who was Klinsmann's assistant.
Flick played for Bayern Munich between 1984 and 1990, winning four Bundesliga titles, and then switched to FC Cologne. Between 2002 and 2005, he coached lower-league team TSG Hoffenheim.
Flick said he followed Germany's run into the World Cup semifinals, when the young team scored more goals than any other country and lifted the country with its spirited play.
"Like all German fans, I was thrilled at what the German team showed," Flick said. "This is a big challenge for me and I'm looking forward to it."
Germany beat Sweden 3-0 last week in its first match under Loew. It starts its 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign against Ireland on Sept. 2.
