Angelique Kerber’s former coach Rainer Schuettler has been named captain of Germany’s Fed Cup team by the country’s governing tennis body DTB.

The 43-year-old Schuettler will replace Jens Gerlach on a year-long contract and will lead the side for the first time in the away tie with Brazil on February 7-8.

“To be Fed Cup captain is an exciting task and big challenge that I’m really looking forward to,” Schuettler said on Sunday.

As a player Schuettler reached the Australian Open final in 2003 and as a coach worked with three-time grand slam winner Kerber from November 2018 until July.