Luigi Delneri has described his return to Udinese as a “beautiful occasion” after being handed the task of turning around the club’s poor start to the season.

Udinese, owned by Giampaolo Pozzo, said on Monday night that 66-year-old Delneri would replace Giuseppe Iachini as coach until the end of the season, with a further one-year option.

Delneri was born in nearby Aquileia, and spent time at the club as a player from 1978-80, but will take over as coach for the first time following a 30-year managerial career that has taken him to Roma and Juventus among other clubs.

“I have to thank the Pozzo family for this,” Delneri said.

“Now is the right time. It’s a beautiful occasion that brings me back to my homeland. Returning for me, yes, it’s a dream come true. In fact, it is the second act of the dream come true.”

Delneri, 66, suffered relegation with Verona last season and arrives at Udinese with the club a point above the drop zone.

“I don’t like to make promises, but I’ll say that there will be total commitment from everyone,” he said, according to the Udinese website.

“We’ll have to sweat for the shirt. We need to go off the pitch knowing we did everything.

“I’m very pleased to return, I’ll have total commitment to achieve our objectives. There are challenges, but I want to make my mark.”

Delneri faces a trip to his former club and Serie A leaders Juventus for his first match in charge on October 15.