Swansea appoint Francesco Guidolin until end of season amid alarming slide in Premier League

The new coach will work alongside interim manager Alan Curtis

Francesco Guidolin (GETTY IMAGES)

Swansea have confirmed the appointment of former Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin as their new head coach.

Guidolin has been brought in to work alongside interim manager Alan Curtis, with the club in the Barclays Premier League relegation zone ahead of Monday night's home game against Watford.

Swansea say Guidolin will have the final say on team selection and the 60-year-old Italian will have a watching brief for the Watford game before taking on a hands-on role for the first time at Everton on Sunday.

"We are very pleased with the appointment," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins told the official club website. "His experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to the club."

Swansea sacked Garry Monk last month - after he secured only one win from 12 games - putting club stalwart Curtis in caretaker charge after a search for a new manager failed to find the right candidate.

The 61-year-old was named interim manager until the end of the season on January 7 but, with only one victory in his seven games under Curtis, Jenkins felt another change was necessary.

He has therefore turned to Guidolin, who has extensive experience in Italy and has also coached Monaco in France's Ligue 1, his most renowned spell coming at Udinese between 2010 and 2014 when he twice steered the unfashionable Serie A club into the Champions League.

"Although we recently appointed Alan Curtis as manager until the end of the campaign, he was aware and comfortable with the fact that we were still looking to bring someone in to assist if we found the right person," Jenkins said.

"We believe we have found that person in Francesco. He has an excellent record, especially with Udinese over the last few years.

"He created an Udinese side from a relatively small budget - compared to the rest of the league - that competed with the big teams in Serie A.

"He instilled a belief and motivation to compete and beat the best Italy had to offer. It is similar to what this football club is trying to do in the Premier League.

"He also has a wealth of knowledge of players throughout Europe which will be a big boost on our recruitment side - something we have been reviewing in a lot more depth over the last few months.

"When the need arose to look for a new manager or head coach, those characteristics stood out from a number of other potential candidates, together with the enthusiasm he has shown to come in and help us turn our season around and retain our Premier League status."

Swansea will become Guidolin's 14th club, with Bologna, Parma and Palermo also on his managerial CV. He won the Coppa Italia with Vicenza in 1997 after leading the club from Serie B.

Since leaving his role at Udinese last May he has worked as a technical supervisor for the three teams belonging to the Pozzo family - namely Udinese, Watford and Granada.

Both Guidolin and Swansea have agreed to review the position at the end of the season with the option of extending the Italian's contract.

PA