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Skibbe appointed Leverkusen coach
 Skibbe is introduced to the media after being named Leverkusen coach FRANKFURT, Germany -- Bayer Leverkusen have appointed Michael Skibbe as their new coach, reuniting him with his former German national team coach Rudi Voeller. Skibbe, who was Voeller's right-hand man during the latter's four-year spell as Germany coach, had signed a contract running to the end of the 2006-07 season. Voeller, now director of football at Leverkusen, had been coaching the team on a caretaker basis following the dismissal of Klaus Augenthaler on September 16. Leverkusen turned to the 40-year-old Skibbe after Matthias Sammer rejected an offer to replace Augenthaler last month. Skibbe was Voeller's assistant during Germany's run to the World Cup final in 2002 and their much less successful campaign at Euro 2004. Since Voeller's departure, Skibbe has been in charge of the German Football Association's youth teams. He has had just one previous spell in charge at a Bundesliga club, at Borussia Dortmund from 1998 to 2000. "It's a great chance to return to the Bundesliga and a great challenge," Skibbe said. "Leverkusen have a lot of potential and our goal must be a return to the Champions League," he added. Since Augenthaler's departure, Leverkusen have climbed from 12th to eighth in the Bundesliga, with 11 points from eight matches. They have also gone out of the UEFA Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat by CSKA Sofia. Skibbe's first match in charge will be a visit to play second-from-bottom Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday. 
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