Inter Milan have announced that former Ajax boss Frank de Boer has been appointed as the club's new head coach.
De Boer, 46, replaces Roberto Mancini, who left the San Siro by "mutual agreement" on Monday.
The former Netherlands international, who won a record 112 caps for his country, had been in charge of Ajax for six years before leaving the club in May. He won four consecutive Eredivisie titles but could only finish as runners-up to PSV Eindhoven in his final two seasons at the helm.
The defender spent the majority of his playing career with Ajax and Barcelona, and takes charge of Inter having never before played for or managed an Italian club.
He will be unveiled at a news conference at 1 p.m. BST on Tuesday, with his first competitive game away to Chievo Verona when the Serie A season kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 21.
Frank #deBoer is #Inter's new Head Coach. Press unveiling at 14:00 CEST https://t.co/XjRrEzLcwY #WelcomeFrank #FCIM pic.twitter.com/ZRicgGjLrj
- F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) August 9, 2016
"I was a bit surprised by Inter's interest," De Boer told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Other Serie A clubs had enquired about me but then they picked Italian coaches, so I thought my future would be elsewhere.
"I had contact with English clubs, Anderlecht and Olympiakos, but when I found out that Inter were serious I desperately wanted to come to Milan. Inter are a club with a great history and they won the Champions League six years ago and now they want to get back into the Champions League, which is the same ambition I have.
"My philosophy? It's forming a blend of youth and experience which can improve the squad to play with my style. In Italy now there is much more than a big defensive school and it's great to see Juve and Roma play.
"I think my philosophy can be successful if the players follow it because players can win matches, but it is the squad which wins titles.
"I had the first informal contact with representatives of the Chinese fund [club owners Suning Holdings Group] after the [6-1] defeat to Tottenham, but I didn't want to start negotiations until they clarified the situation with Roberto Mancini. I wanted everything to be done with the utmost correctness towards him.
"For me it's important to leave a mark on a team. When I decided to leave Ajax, I promised I would take [assistant] Orlando Trustfull with me because we worked very well together.
"And we've built a backroom staff suited to the Italian game: [youth coach Michel] Kreek played for Padova and our analyst [Michele] Santoni is Italian and knows the football in this country very well. As for [fitness coach Alessandro] Schoenmaker, he speaks English and Portuguese and this will help.
"Now's not the right moment [to say if I will sign Ajax players]. Now, it's important that I understand which players I have available, their position in the squad and what they can give and what they need, but we've got to act quickly because the Serie A season is less than two weeks away and we've got some big games straight away."
Inter entertain champions Juventus in the fourth round of Serie A fixtures on Sept. 18.