Stuttgart coach Armin Veh has decided to replace current skipper Fernando Meira with Hitzlsperger, the German daily said.

"The decision was made some time ago," the 47-year-old coach revealed.

Hitzlsperger joined Stuttgart in the summer of 2005 after his contract with English club Aston Villa expired.

He became a regular first-team member soon afterwards and contributed to Stuttgart’s Bundesliga triumph in the 2006/2007 season.