Ranieri named new Roma head coach

Claudio Ranieri has been named the new head coach of Roma until the end of the season. The 67-year-old finalised a deal after arriving in the Italian capital on Friday. Ranieri succeeds Eusebio Di Francesco, who was sacked in the wake of Roma's Champions League exit at the hands of Porto this week.

"We are delighted to welcome Claudio Ranieri back to the club," Roma president James Pallotta told the club's website. "We have one objective remaining this season and that is to finish in the highest possible league position and secure qualification for the Champions League.

"At this stage of the campaign, it was important to bring in a coach who knows the club, understands the environment, can speak the language and is able to motivate the players. Claudio ticks all of those boxes and he's very excited to take on this challenge."

Ranieri was in charge of Roma between 2009 and 2011, leading them to a second-place finish in Serie A and the Coppa Italia final in 2010. The Premier League-winning former Leicester City manager was sacked by Fulham in February, with the club 19th in the Premier League.

"I'm delighted to be coming back home," he said. "When Roma call you, it's impossible to say 'no'."

Roma director Francesco Totti added: "Claudio's from the city, he's a Roma fan but more than that, he's one of the most experienced coaches in world football. What we need now is a safe pair of hands to guide us back into the top four and ensure that we are playing Champions League football again next season. We have 12 games left and we need to win as many of them as possible."