BERLIN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Fortuna Dusseldorf have agreed on a contract extension with head coach Friedhelm Funkel, the newly promoted Bundesliga side confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday.
After a long back and forth, both sides finally agreed on a further collaboration as Friedhelm Funkel penned a deal until summer 2020.
"We are glad that the successful cooperation with Friedhelm Funkel continues through the summer. He has laid a good foundation in the first half of the season. Now we all focus on our big goal of staying in the top flight," Dusseldorf's sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said.
The 65-year-old coach took the reins in March 2016 to lead Fortuna out of the second division into the top flight. Funkel is the most successful second division coach as he was able to promote six times, which is a Bundesliga record.
"It has always been my desire to continue working here. I am very happy that we were able to find an agreement during the winter break. Now we can concentrate on the second half of the season," Funkel said.
Fortuna Dusseldorf sit currently on the 14th place of the standings. They clash with Augsburg at the 18th round in Bundesliga on Saturday.
