The Bundesliga strugglers Hoffenheim have confirmed the 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach. Nagelsmann had been due to take the role in July, with Huub Stevens tasked with keeping the club up this season. However, Stevens resigned on Wednesday after less than four months in the role because of heart problems – and the club have decided that Nagelsmann, who was working as the Under-19s coach, will step up to the senior role early on a three-year contract.

Hoffenheim’s managing director, Dr Peter Görlich, told the club’s official website: “We have a duty of care to the club and of course the people involved. Together with Julian, we again carefully weighed up all the risks we considered in the autumn and have now decided the best way is for him to start earlier. He is keen and he can also give the team fresh impetus.”

Nagelsmann, who the club expect will pass his senior coaching examinations soon, said: “It’s a big challenge of course, made harder by the current points situation. But I am looking forward to working with the team.”

Nagelsmann played at youth level for 1860 Munich and Augsburg before his career was ended by persistent knee problems. Nagelsmann then moved into coaching with Augsburg, where he worked under Thomas Tuchel, the current Borussia Dortmund coach.

The new head coach faces a tough start to his senior managerial career, with Hoffenheim currently 17th and second from bottom in the Bundesliga, seven points from outright safety and five points from 16th place, which would earn the club a place in a relegation play-off. Hoffenheim travel to Werder Bremen, the side currently in that play-off berth, for their next league fixture on Saturday.