Reading have announced the appointment of Paul Clement as their new manager.
The Royals, three points above the Championship relegation zone with eight games remaining, parted company with Jaap Stam earlier in the week.
Clement has been out of work since leaving Swansea in December.
"I am delighted to have secured the services of a hugely experienced forward-thinking manager like Paul, who I have personally worked alongside during our time spent at Chelsea," Reading chief executive Ron Gourlay told the club's official website.
"Not only has he coached at some of the greatest clubs in Europe, winning trophies, league titles and European honours and working with some of the greatest players in the world, fundamentally he also has a rich understanding of English football having managed in both the Championship and the Premier League in recent years.
"Everyone at Reading is fully behind Paul and his squad of players as, together, we initially set our sights on an eight-game battle and continue to strive to then take this club forward."
#WelcomeClement pic.twitter.com/naDaF0wdzh
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) March 23, 2018
Clement has worked at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, while also managing the Swans and Derby.
He kept the Welsh club in the Premier League last season after a strong run of form but lost his job in December following a tough start to the current season.
Stam left Reading on Tuesday after a difficult campaign followed last season's playoff final defeat to Huddersfield on penalties.
They are three points above 22nd-placed Birmingham having won just one league game since Dec. 2, and Clement's first game at the helm will be at home to QPR next Friday.