Bayer Leverkusen have wasted no time in finding a new coach after allowing Bruno Labbadia to move to Hamburg by appointing Jupp Heynckes.

Labbadia was given permission to take over at Hamburg after a meeting between the two clubs this evening and, within hours, Heynckes was confirmed as his replacement.

"We spoke a lot with Bruno after the last game and we analysed the whole situation," said Bayer's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser on the club's website.

"We discussed everything at length. We had actually agreed to continue together, but Bruno wanted to make a fresh start.

"After this decision, Heynckes was our first choice since we had already discussed this eventuality over the last few years.

"We are very happy that this successful and internationally respected coach spontaneously decided to accept our offer.

"We are convinced that our young team in particular will profit from his experience and his authority."

Heynckes is fresh from a five-game stint in charge of Bayern Munich, where he replaced Jurgen Klinsmann towards the end of last season and, with four wins and a draw, led them to second place in the Bundesliga and a place in the Champions League next season.

Until then, the 64-year-old had spent two years out of the game, mainly due to illness, after leaving Borussia Monchengladbach.

But he said the six weeks in charge of Bayern had given him the taste for coaching once again and Bayer's offer came at just the right time.

"I was delighted about Bayer's interest," he said. "During my short spell in Munich, I realised that something is still burning inside of me.

"Therefore, I am happy to take on this assignment. I know most of the players well and the challenge to lead this young and very talented team back into Europe is very attractive.

"I can see a lot of potential."

With Heynckes' arrival at Leverkusen, Labbadia's move to Hamburg and Michael Skibbe's appointment at Eintracht Frankfurt, the coaching carousel in Germany is slowly grinding to a halt.

Frankfurt presented Skibbe to replace Friedhelm Funkel while Labbadia will be paraded as HSV's new coach on Sunday.

Only Cologne are now left without a coach after Christoph Daum resigned earlier this week.

Wolfsburg, Schalke, Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach will also start next season with new men in the hot seat while the futures of Thomas Schaaf at Werder Bremen and Marcel Koller in Bochum remain the source of constant speculation.