Austria Vienna announced Friday that former player Manfred Schmid would take over as its new coach after the club missed out on finishing in the "top six" group of the Austrian league. "To become coach at the club of my heart is a very emotional thing for me," Schmid, 50, said in a statement announcing the appointment. He said the club "is in the most serious situation it's been since I've known it". "I want to take part in a new beginning and bring in my national and international experience," he added. Schmid has spent previous spells in various coaching positions in Cologne and Dortmund. Austria Vienna said his contract will run until 2023 with the option of extending for a further year. The club on Friday also announced the appointment of a new sporting director, Manuel Ortlechner, who was captain of the club when it won its last league title in the 2012-13 season. Schmid takes over from another former Austria Vienna player Peter Stoeger, who announced he was leaving last month. jsk/lp