Aston Villa have appointed Gerard Houllier as their new manager.
The former Liverpool boss has been linked with the job for several days but an announcement was delayed to allow the Frenchman to negotiate his release from his post as technical director with the French Football Federation.
The 63-year-old succeeds Martin O'Neill at Villa Park and the appointment marks his return to the Premier League six years after he ended his reign at Liverpool.
"Two of the key qualities which we identified as being of crucial importance in our search for the new manager were experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad, and Gerard Houllier comfortably satisfies these criteria," said Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa Football Club.
"In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our Club and shares our core values."
Houllier added: "I am very happy and proud to join this great and historic club.
"It was a very difficult decision for me to leave the FFF [French Football Federation] but I could not turn down the opportunity to manage a club whose approach, both on and off the pitch, I have long admired.
"Aston Villa is one of England's biggest clubs and has an amazing set of fans. This is a tremendous challenge and one I am very much looking forward to taking on."