round by Bayern Munich. In the league, Alemannia Aachen finished in sixth place. The 2005–06 season started with a 2–1 loss to Erzgebirge Aue on 8 August 2005. Hannover 96 eliminated Alemannia Aachen in the second round of the German Cup. Alemannia Aachen finished second in the 2. Bundesliga and was promoted to the Bundesliga. Hecking's time guiding Alemannia Aachen in the top flight was short. Just three games in, he requested to be able to leave the club for his former club and fellow Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on 7 September 2006, to fill the vacancy left by their sacking of Peter Neururer. Ironically, the final straw for Neururer was a 0–3 home defeat to Hecking's Alemannia Aachen. Alemannia Aachen were in 14th place when Hecking left the club. Hecking finished with a record of 42 wins, 14 draws, and 27 losses in 82 matches. Hannover 96 (2006–2009) Hecking became manager on 7 September 2006. Dieter Hecking officially took over the manager's job with immediate effect on 7 September 2006. However, caretaker manager Michael Schjönberg managed the DFB-Pokal match against Dynamo Dresden on 9 September 2006. Hecking recovered Hannover from a dismal start that left them bottom at the time of his arrival. The team also achieved a good run through to the quarter finals of the German Cup, and finished comfortably in 11th place in the Bundesliga. During the following season, Hanover were knocked out of the German Cup in the second round by Schalke 04. Hannover improved on their league position by finishing in eighth place. Hannover started the 2008–09 season with a 5–0 win against Hallescher FC on 9 August 2008. They were eventually eliminated in the second round by Schalke, for the second consecutive year. Hannover defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 5–1 on 14 September 2008. The following week, on 19 September 2008, Hannover lost to Bayer Leverkusen 4–0. Hannover lost to 1899 Hoffenheim 5–2 on 18 October 2008. Hannover lost 4–0 to Eintracht Frankfurt on 22 November 2008. The match against VfB Stuttgart on 14 February 2009 finished in a 3–3 draw. Hannover lost to Bayern Munich 5–1 on 7 March 2009. The match against Borussia Dortmund on 14 March 2009 finished in a 4–4 draw. Hannover lost to Wolfsburg 5–0 on 16 May 2009. Hannover finished the 2008–09 season in 11th place. On 19 August 2009 Hecking resigned voluntarily from his post after a disappointing