Berlin, April 16 (IANS): Positioned last in German football league Bundesliga, Hamburg have appointed Bruno Labbadia as their new head coach with immediate effect.

After two straight defeats under caretaker Peter Knaebel, who is the club's sporting director, Hamburg reacted and appointed Labbadia, who was in-charge of 'HSV' from 2009 till 2010. The former German international put pen to paper on a deal until June 2016 to become Hamburg's seventh coach in two years, reports Xinhua.

Labbadia awaits a hard task as Hamburg sit last in the standings with just six rounds to play and a four-point gap to safety. The HSV is the only top-flight club that never relegated in Bundesliga history.

However, Labbadia's contract will remain valid in case of Hamburg's relegation into second division.

"With Bruno Labbadia we signed a strong coach who knows the relegation battle," Hamburg chief executive officer (CEO) Dietmar Beiersdorfer said on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old will have Eddy Soezer as his assistant.

"I expect full dedication and passion in the coming weeks for all those involved. We now have to return quickly to winning ways. The situation is definitely not easy but it's a challenge and we can make it," Hamburg's new coach said.

Labbadia knows the Bundesliga business very well as he already coached, besides Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart. The HSV face Bremen for the Northern derby on Sunday.