Leicester have announced the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as their new manager, bringing the Italian back to the Premier League 11 years after he left Chelsea.
Ranieri, 63, coached Greece following the 2014 World Cup but was sacked only a few months into his tenure after a disastrous spell of three defeats and one draw in European Championship qualifying.
Leicester had been searching for a new boss since sacking Nigel Pearson on June 30, with the club making a statement at the time which said "fundamental differences in perspective exist between us."
BREAKING: We're delighted to introduce Claudio Ranieri as our new First Team Manager! #lcfc #WelcomeClaudio pic.twitter.com/ftjvCUz3Yh
- Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) July 13, 2015
Ranieri, who signed a three-year contract at Swansea, previously managed Chelsea from 2000-2004, being replaced when Jose Mourinho was appointed to his first stint with the Blues.
In a statement on Leicester's website, Ranieri said he had long wanted to return to the Premier League.
"I'm so glad to be here in a Club with such a great tradition as Leicester City," he said. "I have worked at many great clubs, in many top leagues, but since I left Chelsea I have dreamt of another chance to work in the best league in the world again.
"I wish to thank the owner, his son and all the executives of the Club for the opportunity they are giving me. Now I've only one way for returning their trust: squeeze all my energies to getting the best results for the team."
Since leaving Chelsea he had short stints in charge Valencia and Parma, then led Italian giants Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan before coaching Monaco for two seasons.
In a statement, Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: "It is my great pleasure to welcome Claudio Ranieri -- a man of remarkable experience and knowledge that will lead us into the next phase of our long-term plan for Leicester City.
"His achievements in the game, his knowledge of English football and his record of successfully coaching some of the world's finest players made him the outstanding candidate for the job and his ambitions for the future reflect our own.
"To have attracted one of the world's elite managers speaks volumes both for the progress Leicester City has made in recent years and for the potential that remains for the Club's long-term development."
Ranieri met the Leicester squad on Monday afternoon and he will oversee his first training session on Tuesday morning -- assisted by Craig Shakespeare, Steve Walsh and the existing City backroom team.
He will remain with the group for the remainder of their training camp in Bad Radkersburg, Austria. The Italian will have the opportunity to see the squad in action for the first time on July 21 when Leicester begin their preseason friendly schedule with a trip to Lincoln.
The Foxes also have friendly fixtures lined up at Mansfield, Burton, Rotherham and Birmingham, before beginning their Premier League campaign against Sunderland at the King Power Stadium on Aug. 8.
Leicester had also been heavily linked to Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, who previously led the club to two League Cups in 1997 and 2000.
Speculation had also linked American coaches Bob Bradley and Predrag "Preki" Radosavljevic as favourites for the position.
Information from Press Association was used in this report.