Werder Bremen told German mass-circulation daily Bild on Tuesday that one of its favorite sons would be returning to the club as a coach.

Torsten Frings will enter the Bremen backroom as co-trainer for the U23 team alongside his former playing teammate Viktor Skripnik.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work for Werder again," Frings told Bild. The midfield marshal got his big break at Bremen, and returned for another lengthy spell with the side after stints with both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. It was with Bayern that he won his only Bundesliga title. He played more than 300 senior matches with Bremen, also earning 79 Germany caps in his career.

"We are delighted that Torsten will take his first steps as a coach with Werder at the end of his playing career," senior Bremen figure Klaus Filbry told Bild.

Frings, 36, retired as a professional player in February; a hip injury curtailed his last playing stint with Toronto FC. In June, he is starting a two-year coaching course, seeking the licenses required to serve as a team's chief tactician.

"We're allowing Torsten to take a hands-on approach to his coach's training," Filbry said, following a similar path to his former Bremen teammate Tim Borowski.

Bremen parted ways with long-standing head coach Thomas Schaaf, after his worst Bundesliga season in 15 years in charge, in May. The club appointed former Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen boss Robin Dutt as Schaaf's replacement last week.

msh/ccp (dpa, SID)