Bundesliga outfit Schalke have confirmed the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as the club's new manager.


The 44-year-old Italian succeeds Jens Keller as the club's new coach after Schalke's inconsistent start to their Bundesliga and Champions League campaigns this season. Schalke have won only twice this season and are 11th in the league with eight points from their first seven games.


The inconsistency of the team has forced the club's board to enforce the decision to remove Keller from his duties, with former Chelsea manager Di Matteo swiftly brought in as his replacement. It is Di Matteo's first job since being sacked by Chelsea in 2012 - shortly after winning the Champions League - and he will face up to his former club in their group stage clash in November.


Schalke general manager Horst Heldt explained the change to the club's website on Tuesday morning, saying: "The achievements of the team in recent weeks repeatedly fluctuated. Also positive approaches such as the seven points of the 'English week' with the icing on the cake of Derby victory did not show any lasting effect.


"It [Keller's reign] lacks the necessary consistency to achieve our athletic goals. Therefore, we decided to make a cut.


"Nevertheless, we should not forget that Jens Keller has done a good job in the past 22 months. He has taken our team in December 2012 in a difficult situation after another out twice in the group stage of the Champions League, where each reached the knockout stages. Jens has helped other talents from our Knapp forge to jump in the Bundesliga. He deserves the thanks of FC Schalke 04."


Referring to Di Matteo, Heldt said: "With the coaching change we want to put a new impetus. We are firmly convinced that Roberto Di Matteo stabilized the team and manages to achieve our goals in the Bundesliga and the Champions League."


Di Matteo's first match in charge will be in the home game against Hertha Berlin on October 18th.