Lucien Favre has been confirmed as the new manager of Borussia Dortmund, taking the 60-year-old Swiss from French Ligue 1 club Nice with a two-year contract.

Dortmund parted ways with Peter Stöger at the end of last season after they finished in fourth place, only just qualifying for the Champions League. His departure ended an inconsistent campaign that began with the Dutchman Peter Bosz in charge before he was sacked midway through the season.

Favre left Nice, who finished eighth, two days ago and will return to the Bundesliga following successful spells at Hertha Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach. He led Hertha to a fourth-place finish in 2009 and then took Gladbach from the brink of relegation to fourth spot in 2012.

“Signing Lucien Favre as coach is an important part of our sporting new start,” said Dortmund’s sporting director, Michael Zorc. “He is well-respected for his qualities which he has impressively proven at Hertha, Gladbach and recently Nice.”

Dortmund, Bundesliga champions in 2011 and 2012, had expected to be contend for the title in the 2017-18 campaign but instead saw Bayern Munich once again become runaway champions. “To coach Borussia Dortmund is an attractive task that I am very happy to take on,” said Favre. “Now we will start working on the new team.”