Kurz signs new Kaiserslautern deal

Published Oct. 11, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kaiserslautern have handed coach Marco Kurz a 12-month contract extension despite making a woeful start to the season.

The Red Devils lie 16th in the Bundesliga with five points from eight games, but the board have decided to back rather than sack Kurz and extended his contract to the summer of 2013.

"We have one of the best coaches in the league and we want to work with some continuity in this position," chairman Stefan Kuntz told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

"Marco Kurz brought this club back into the Bundesliga after four years and he led us to a sensational seventh place in our first year back. With him, we will also avoid relegation this year and set new goals for the future."

Kurz said: "Work here at Kaiserslautern is characterised by honesty and trust and I am delighted to be able to continue with this club.

"We are certainly not at the end of our path and our aim is to establish ourselves in the Bundesliga with hard work and concentration."

Kurz took over as coach of Kaiserslautern in 2009 after working with 1860 Munich for three years at the end of his playing career.

He led the club to promotion in his first year in charge while the fact they spent the whole of last season without any relegation fears was seen as a major achievement.