Valencia hire Cesare Prandelli as new manager

VALENCIA: Valencia says former Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has agreed to become the new manager of the Spanish club.

Valencia says Prandelli has signed a contract through June 2018.

Caretaker coach Salvador "Voro" Gonzalez will be in charge of the team for Sunday's Spanish league match against Atletico Madrid before Prandelli takes over.

The 59-year-old Prandelli coached Italy from 2010-14, and guided the team to the final of the 2012 European Championship where it lost to Spain.

He has coached several Italian teams, including a five-year stint at Fiorentina. He also coached Galatasaray in Turkey in 2014-15.

Valencia fired former coach Pako Ayestaran last week after the team lost the first four matches of the season. It has since won two straight under Voro.

Prandelli is Valencia's eighth full-time manager since Unai Emery's four-year stint ended in 2012.