Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been appointed head coach of Belgium, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced on Wednesday.
Martinez, 43, will take over FIFA's No. 2-ranked team less than two months after being sacked by Everton after leading the Toffees to a disappointing 11th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Our new head coach: Roberto Martínez ! #welcomeRoberto #tousensemble pic.twitter.com/3JiQYAeYI1
- BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) August 3, 2016
Belgium begin their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on Sept. 6 at Cyprus.
Martinez spent three years at Everton after previously coaching Swansea City and Wigan.
He replaces Marc Wilmots, who was fired after Belgium lost to Wales in the Euro 2016 quarterfinals last month.
Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup before losing to Argentina and they were among the favourites to become European champions this summer.
But they suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat to Wales in the last eight and Wilmots left his role within two weeks of that defeat.
Martinez began his managerial career in 2007 after coming to Britain from his native Spain to play for Wigan, Motherwell, Walsall, Swansea and Chester.
He took Swansea into the Championship before accepting the opportunity to take over Premier League Wigan in 2009.
Wigan won the FA Cup under Martinez in 2013 but were relegated a few days later and the Spaniard went to Everton.
Martinez had a successful first season on Merseyside with the team's attractive style of play earning them a fifth-placed finish.
But Everton never hit the same heights again, with two Premier League finishes of 11th and a feeling that the club had massively under-achieved given the playing talent at Martinez's disposal.
Martinez had been linked with the Hull managerial vacancy before his shock Belgium appointment.
Writing on Twitter, former England striker and TV presenter Gary Lineker said: "Roberto Martinez is the new coach of Belgium. Wish him well in turning a side that plays really open into one that plays....really open.''
Stan Collymore expressed his surprise at the news by saying: "Anyone else completely didn't see Roberto Martinez appointed the next Belgium manager?''
Information from PA Sport was used in this report.