BARNSLEY have appointed former Hannover manager Daniel Stendel as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Stendel, 44, will begin work on July 1 as he looks to guide the club out of Sky Bet League One following their relegation from the Championship.

"I am very happy to join Barnsley Football Club and I am happy with the faith, trust and belief shown to me from everyone here in advance of me starting the role," Stendel said.

"I'm fully motivated and excited to get going, I am ready to meet the players and fans during pre-season."

Barnsley chief executive Gauthier Ganaye believes Stendel will implement the style of play which Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has helped to popularise.

"We've identified that the counter-press has been used by the most successful teams in the world and Daniel is one of the best coaches at doing that," Ganaye said.

"The whole board of directors at the club were involved during the process of appointing Daniel in the role of head coach. We identified him as a candidate as he's a coach that has a style of play that matches the mentality of club and town, it's attacking with flair and high intensity designed to press the opposition.

"As well as the style, Daniel has the philosophy of using and developing younger players which fits perfectly in our model too."

Like the Bantams, Barnsley waited over a month before appointing a new boss after Jose Morais left following relegation.

Grant McCann had been strongly linked with the Oakwell job and could remain a contender for the vacant Valley Parade hot seat.