Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel has extended his contract until 2013 at the end of a season which has exceeded the club's expectations.

Tuchel took over from Jorn Andersen last summer after the club noted a fracture between the players and the man who had led them to promotion during training. Tuchel, who had been in charge of the Mainz youth team, was installed only days before the start of the season and guided them to mathematical safety with over a month remaining.

Mainz has an exceptional feeling of togetherness and the work with this club, with this training team and with these players is immensely enjoyable.
Thomas Tuchel

"Everybody at the club agrees that Thomas Tuchel and Mainz just go well together," said the club's general manager Christian Heidel. "The hopes we set when we named Thomas Tuchel as our coach have been exceeded."

Tuchel today put pen to paper on a two-year extension on his contract, which was up for renewal in 2011 and he thanked his employers for the backing he has been given. "The offer from the club at this moment shows an absolute respect for my work and a lot of faith that Mainz has in me," said the 36-year-old on the club's website.

"We are nowhere near the end of our development. Mainz has an exceptional feeling of togetherness and the work with this club, with this training team and with these players is immensely enjoyable."

Whatever Mainz do against Schalke this weekend, they are already guaranteed to end the season in their highest-ever league position.