20.05.2015 16:14 h

Rosler appointed Leeds head coach

Former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler has been appointed as the new head coach of Leeds United, the English second-tier side announced on Wednesday.

"We are pleased to announce Uwe Rosler has been appointed as the new #lufc head coach on a two-year deal," the club announced on their official Twitter page.

Rosler, 46, succeeds Neil Redfearn, who Leeds said had been offered his former role as head of the club's academy.

Rosler, who had been out of work since being sacked by Wigan Athletic last November, becomes Leeds' fifth head coach since Italian entrepreneur Massimo Cellino acquired the club in April 2014.

Cellino has been critical of Redfearn since returning to Leeds earlier this month after completing a Football League ban over a tax conviction in Italy, describing him as "weak" and a "baby".

Rosler spent four years with City between 1994 and 1998.

He began his coaching career with Lillestrom in Norway in 2004 and had spells at Viking Stavanger and Molde before returning to England with third-tier Brentford in June 2011.

After taking Brentford to the third-tier play-off final, he joined Wigan in December 2013.

Wigan reached the FA Cup semi-finals and qualified for the Championship play-offs in Rosler's first season, but he was dismissed after they slipped into the relegation zone.

Redfearn, a boyhood Leeds fan, was appointed head coach following the dismissal of Darko Milanic last October and steered the Elland Road club to a 15th-place finish in the Championship.

Three-time English champions, Leeds last played in the Premier League in 2004.