Stuttgart recalls Stevens as coach to replace Veh

Huub Stevens, pictured as a coach for Stuttgart. (Sebastian Kahnert/AP

STUTTGART, Germany — Huub Stevens is back at Stuttgart with the same mission as last season: Save the Bundesliga club from relegation.

Stevens was hired by Stuttgart as the new coach on Tuesday, with the club again at the bottom of the table.

The 60-year-old Dutchman rescued Stuttgart from relegation last season, and has extensive Bundesliga experience. This will be his sixth job in the league.

"I think it’s going to be more difficult than last year," Stevens said after signing a contract until the end of the season.

Stevens coached Stuttgart for the last 10 matches of the season but then left, citing "personal reasons." He was replaced by Armin Veh, who coached Stuttgart to its last Bundesliga title in 2007.

But Veh resigned after only 12 Bundesliga matches, following a 1-0 home loss to Augsburg on Sunday that dropped Stuttgart to last in the standings.

Stevens will take over immediately, and will guide the team in Freiburg on Friday.

He is Stuttgart’s eighth coach since 2007.

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