Cologne have announced that former Freiburg coach Volker Finke will become their new director of sport from 1 February.

The 62-year-old has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club and replaces Michael Meier, who was sacked earlier this month.

Finke is currently coach of Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, but his contract with them expires at the end of the year.

"Finke has proven in the past that he can put together and enhance teams strategically and conceptually," read an announcement on Cologne's website. "Volker Finke is valued for his sporting competency and he is a personality with a vision.

"Volker Finke was the preferred candidate of the club's management and fits perfectly into the profile which Cologne was searching for."