Sam Allardyce has been appointed as Sunderland's new manager on a two-year contract, the Premier League strugglers have announced.
Allardyce replaces Dick Advocaat, who left the club last weekend after a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against West Ham.
The 60-year-old had been available after leaving his job with the Hammers at the end of last season when his contract was not renewed.
The former Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers boss inherits a side in the relegation zone and yet to register a win in eight Premier League games so far this season.
ALLARDYCE APPOINTED: Sam Allardyce has been appointed as the new manager of #SAFC. http://t.co/efniZpTfuw pic.twitter.com/H6d3SleqDQ
- Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 9, 2015
He told the club's official website: "I have enjoyed my break from football and now I'm raring to get back. I met with [club chairman Ellis short] and we spoke at length about the club and his ambitions and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I hope to be able to help to bring the stability and success that everyone wants.
"Of course it's a challenging job, but it's something I have experience of in the past. I'm looking forward to working with the players and of course I will be relying on the help of the Sunderland supporters, whose tremendous passion I have experienced first-hand. I can't wait to get started."
Short added: "I am very pleased to welcome Sam to our football club. Sunderland is a club he knows well and he was the obvious best choice for the job. He has vast experience of managing in the Premier League and an understanding first-hand of the north east and the passion of our fans, which will stand him in great stead.
"I would like to assure our fans that once Dick made us aware of his intention to leave, [former sporting director] Lee Congerton oversaw an organised and structured recruitment process, that bore very little resemblance to what has been described in the media.
"For example, this was a very popular job, proactively sought after by a large number of managers -- contrary to much of what has been portrayed. The process was made easier by the fact that Sam was such an obvious choice.
"The other misconception is that Sam had to be persuaded to join us; nothing could be further from the truth. From the very beginning, he understood the importance of this job and showed great enthusiasm for the role and a desire to be part of moving this club forward."
Allardyce's first match in the dugout will be at West Bromwich Albion on Oct. 17. His first major test comes the following weekend when Sunderland welcome bitter local rivals Newcastle -- where Allardyce lasted just eight months in the job -- to the Stadium of Light.