Schalke hire Breitenreiter as manager from relegated side Paderborn

Published Jun. 12, 2015 2:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany --

Schalke says it has hired Andre Breitenreiter of relegated Paderborn as new coach.

Breitenreiter replaces Roberto di Matteo, who resigned at the end of the Bundesliga season, which saw Schalke qualify for the Europa League but fall short of a slot in the Champions League.

He signed a two-year contract. Schalke had also approached Markus Weinzierl of Augsburg and Belgium coach Marc Wilmots, but both declined the offer.

Breitenreiter took Paderborn to the Bundesliga but the small club was relegated on the final day of the season. Schalke will have to buy out Breitenreiter's contract for an undisclosed sum.