The 54-year-old has opted to move countries and will now lead the junior team in Switzerland.

Langen has coached German pilots to eight World Championship gold medals, with Francesco Friedrich winning the two-man title three times in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Manuel Machata captured the four man title in 2011 with Maximilian Arndt then triumphing in the bigger sled in 2013 and 2015.

In women's bobsleigh, Langen guided Cathleen Martini to 2011 World Championship success and Anja Schneiderheinze-Stöckel to the title this year.

He also had a hand in 11 gold medals at the European Championships and success on the World Cup circuit but drew a blank at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics when no German teams reached the podium.

In Switzerland, Langen will take charge of a rookie two-man team piloted by Marcel Rohner.

Reports in Germany suggest that Rene Spies, the 2001 two-man World Cup champion and 2003 European gold medallist, could take over the top job in Germany.

He has worked as a co-coach with Langen since 2012.

Langen was a successful bobsleigh pilot in his own right, winning an Olympic four-man gold medal at Nagano 1998 and then following that up with another victory in the two-man at Salt Lake City 2002.

He also won two-man Olympic bronze medals at Albertville in 1992 and in Nagano, as well as eight World Championship titles.

He won six World Cup titles and seven European crowns.