Watford have announced that former Inter Milan and Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri will take over as head coach on July 1.
Mazzarri will succeed Quique Sanchez Flores as boss at the Premier League side after the Spaniard parted company with the club at the end of the 2015-16 season.
The Italian has agreed a three-year contract at Vicarage Road, as revealed by his agent on Friday, becoming the Hornets' eighth manager in the last four years.
OFFICIAL: #watfordfc confirms it has reached agreement with Walter Mazzarri to become Head Coach from 1st July 2016. pic.twitter.com/ExNAAxYnHK
- Watford FC (@WatfordFC) May 21, 2016
Flores led Watford to a 13th place finish in the club's first season back in the Premier League and also took them to the semifinals of the FA Cup where they were beaten by Crystal Palace.
But owner Gino Pozzo was said to be concerned by their slump in the second half of the campaign and decided to make a change.
Watford's chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's official website: "Walter has been the target of a number of approaches for his services, so we're delighted to secure him as head coach here at Watford.
"We're thoroughly looking forward to working with such a highly-regarded coach, with the progress and development of the club always remaining the highest priority."
Mazzarri has been out of work since leaving Inter in 2014 but reached the Coppa Italia final with both Sampdoria and Napoli, while also leading the latter to a runners-up finish in Serie A in 2012-13.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.