Newcastle United has appointed Eddie Howe to become the new manager after Steve Bruce was fired last month.
Howe, who has signed a contract until the summer of 2024, has not been in charge since he left Bournemouth in August 2020 following relegation to the Championship.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us,” Howe told Newcastle’s website.
He takes over with Newcastle who is close to the bottom being 19th in the table, five points from safety after 11 games.
Howe was in the stands on Saturday when Newcastle’s played 1-1 at Brighton.
“I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players,” he added.
“I would like to thank the club’s owners for this opportunity and thank the club’s supporters for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together.”
The Magpies had approached Villarreal manager Unai Emery to take over as their new boss, but the Spaniard turned down the offer.
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley said the club had been “incredibly impressed” by Howe through what had been a “rigorous recruitment process”.
She described Howe, who will make his debut with Newcastle at home to Brentford on 20 November, as a “passionate” and “dynamic” coach.
“He is a great fit for what we are trying to build here,” added Staveley.
Bruce left Newcastle by mutual consent on 20 October, just 13 days after the Saudi Arabian-backed £305m takeover of the club was announced.
Graeme Jones has been an interim coach ever since as the club has drawn with Crystal Palace and Brighton as well as losing to Chelsea under him.
Howe took Bournemouth from the bottom of League Two to the Premier League and kept the south coast club there for five seasons.
