Swansea City have appointed Francesco Guidolin as the club's new Head Coach.
Guidolin will work alongside Alan Curtis, who recently saw his caretaker role become a permanent one until the end of the season, with a successor to Garry Monk unable to be found at the halfway point of the season. The Italian will have final say on team selection.
He was most recently manager of Serie A side Udinese and arrives in South Wales with a wealth of experience, which will be invaluable in their relegation battle.
Chairman delighted
Speaking to Swansea City's official website, Chairman Huw Jenkins expressed his delight with Guidolin's arrival, saying he is "very pleased with the appointment."
Having been coaching for 30 years, Jenkins is thrilled with the "experience" that the new man brings to the table, with that and his "knowledge" to be "a huge asset to the club."
With Guidolin arriving in the January transfer window, the Chairman is also excited about the "knowledge" he has of "players throughout Europe," with that able to "boost" the club in a "recruitment" sense as they look for players that can help them avoid the drop.
Jenkins revealed that the manager caught their eye after his time at Udinese, where "he instilled a belief and motivation to compete and beat the best Italy had to offer" - something he says Swansea are "trying to do in the Premier League."
When the club started to search for a new manager, he said that these are the "characteristics" they were looking for, whilst Guidolin also had the "enthusiasm" to help the Swans "turn [their] season around and retain [their] Premier League status."
Guidolin to work alongside Curtis
As for the role that Guidolin will assume, it will be one that sees him assist Curtis as the club aim to stay in the top flight.
Jenkins said that Curtis has been "aware and comfortable" with the fact that he and his team were "still looking to bring someone in to assist" him, despite him being appointed manager until the summer.
However, this would only happen "if [they] found the right person," which he "believe[s]" they have in the Italian. "He has an excellent record," the Chairman added, with him excited about the partnership that will commence at the helm.
Guidolin will watch Swansea's game with Watford tonight from the stands before assuming his role at the club later this week.