Gianfranco Zola has been appointed as manager of Watford, the club have announced.

The Italian has signed a two-year deal at the Championship club after the Hornets’ new owners confirmed the sacking of Sean Dyche yesterday.

“Everyone knows how Gianfranco Zola likes football to be played,” Watford newly-appointed technical director Gianluca Nani told the club’s official website.

“I think Watford’s fans can expect an exciting and attacking style from his team. Gianfranco represents this project perfectly.”

The appointment completes Zola’s return to English football two years after he left West Ham.

It had been expected since the Pozzo family, who completed their takeover of the club from Laurence Bassini last week, revealed the 46-year-old Italian was their preferred candidate.

The former Chelsea player had two seasons in charge of the Hammers, impressing in the first as he led the club to ninth place in the Premier League in the 2008/09 season.

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