Eindhoven, Netherlands  - Fred Rutten signed a three-year contract as PSV Eindhoven coach in his native Netherlands on Friday, with the job starting on July 1.

Rutten, 46, put pen to paper three weeks after being fired at German club Schalke 04, where he didn't last a full season.

At PSV, Rutten will take over from Dwight Lodeweges, who acted as caretaker since the January retirement of Huub Stevens.

The former European champions PSV are enjoying a mediocre season by its standard, ranked fifth in the Eredivisie after lifting the trophy the past four seasons.

Rutten was a youth team coordinator and assistant coach at PSV 2001-2006. (dpa)