Jara to take Salzburg helm

Germany spell
The 54-year-old former Austrian international has spent the last five years in Germany, and although he was sacked soon after guiding Hamburger SV to fourth in 2002/03, he moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in February 2004. The former FC Tirol and Xanthi FC coach guided the side to safety in his first campaign and after starting this season badly - they were bottom at the end of October - things were looking up for the club before he left by mutual consent a fortnight ago.

Midas touch
The move followed his decision not to extend his contract at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion beyond the current season. Jara left the club in ninth, however, and his ability to apparently turn ailing clubs around is an obvious attraction for Salzburg who lie second from bottom in Austria, just four points above the relegation spot.

Caretaker coach
The Austrian Bundesliga side sacked Croatian coach Nicola Jurcevic after just five matches in charge following the side's 2-0 defeat by SV Mattersburg on Saturday. Manfred Linzmaier, who was Jara's assistant at Hamburger and Kaiserslautern, will lead the side for the remaining eight games of the season, before Jara officially takes up his post during the summer.