Stuttgart name super scout Sven Mislintat as director

Berlin, Germany: Former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund star scout Sven Mislintat has joined Bundesliga relegation candidates VfB Stuttgart as their sporting director, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The 46-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the club and is set to be tasked with a major squad overhaul at the relegation-threatened outfit. 

"This is a big challenge. In the coming weeks, our focus will be on the relegation fight, but of course I will have one eye on the planning for next season," said Mislintat on Thursday. 

"Sven has built up a very good reputation in his long career. With his knowledge, his network and his way of thinking about football, he fits perfectly with us," said Stuttgart's head of sport Thomas Hitzlsperger. 

Mislintat rose to fame during his time at Borussia Dortmund, where he was credited with bringing the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele to the Westfalenstadion.

Mislintat, who earned the nickname "Diamond Eyes" in Germany, later became head of recruitment at Arsenal, where he oversaw the signings of Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi. 

He left Arsenal in February after reportedly clashing with director of football Raul Sanllehi.

At Stuttgart, who are third from bottom with six games left, Mislintat will work directly under former Aston Villa midfielder Hitzlsperger, who replaced Michael Reschke as head of sport in February.

Head coach Markus Weinzierl is set to remain at the Mercedes-Benz Arena despite a disappointing campaign for the five-time former Bundesliga winners.

"I spoke to the coaching team this week, and I told them that we would get through this together," Hitzlsperger told Sky on Saturday.