Stevens accepts PAOK post

Greek Super League runners-up PAOK FC have reached an agreement with Huub Stevens for the Dutchman to take over as coach.

In a statement, the Salonika club said the 59-year-old will be presented to the media next week when he arrives in Greece to finalise the terms of the deal and sign his contract. The two-time FC Schalke 04 trainer succeeds Giorgos Georgiadis, who led the side through the end-of-season play-offs following the departure of Giorgos Donis in late April.

Speaking to the PAOK website, Stevens said: "PAOK are a club representing hard work – I have always felt at home with such teams. Our goal is to help PAOK go forward. We will do everything in our power to create a competitive team that the fans can embrace."

PAOK president Zisis Vryzas expressed his delight that "a coach of Huub Stevens's stature has agreed to lead PAOK to a better future. He believes in hard work and discipline and has a lot of success in top leagues to show for this."

Well-travelled Stevens began his coaching career with Roda JC, moving to Schalke in October 1996 and overseeing a penalty shoot-out victory in that season's UEFA Cup final against FC Internazionale Milano, in addition to German Cup triumphs in 2001 and 2002.

After spells with six clubs – Hertha BSC Berlin, 1. FC Köln, Roda, Hamburger SV, PSV Eindhoven and FC Salzburg – Stevens returned to Schalke in 2011 and steered them to a third-place finish. He was dismissed in December 2012 with the Gelsenkirchen outfit in seventh spot in the Bundesliga.

PAOK, eliminated in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in 2004/05 and 2010/11, start their European campaign at the same stage on 30/31 July.