Jol's new team are currently fifth in the Bundesliga

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol has arrived in Hamburg to begin his new job coaching the Bundesliga club.

Dutchman Jol, who was sacked by Spurs last October following a disappointing start to the season, has replaced compatriot Huub Stevens at Hamburg.

He said: "I had many offers, but I didn't want them - I wanted to wait and as soon as Hamburg called, I needed just five seconds to consider it."

Hamburg are fifth in the Bundesliga with one game of the season to play.

They reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup earlier in the season, before being beaten by fellow German side Bayer Leverkusen.

The club had been on the lookout for a new coach ever since Stevens announced he would leave the club in the summer to take charge at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

Jol said: "For me, HSV is up there with Bayern Munich as the biggest and best club in Germany.

"I have seen the team play over the last few weeks and they are a very good, young team.

I was in London and wanted to stay there Martin Jol

"If we add a player or two, we can do even better than this year."

Jol is also determined to keep club captain Rafael van der Vaart at the Volksparkstadion.

The Dutch international has so far refused to sign an extension on his contract, which expires in 2010.

"If he wants to leave, then we will have to do all we can to keep hold of him," Jol insisted.

"He is one of the best five playmakers in Europe and dictates the rhythm of HSV."

In November, Jol rejected an approach from Birmingham following the departure of their manager Steve Bruce to Wigan.

And he admitted he had initially been in the market for English offers only.

"I was in London and wanted to stay there," he said.

Jol joined Spurs in 2004 and guided them to the brink of Champions League qualification in 2006, only missing out on a top-four finish on the last day of the season.

He also led the club to fifth the following season, but failed to break into the elusive top four.