Manuel Pellegrini has been appointed West Ham manager on a three-year contract at the London Stadium.
The Chilean is understood to have become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League upon his appointment, earning roughly £10 million ($13m) per season.
Goal reported last week that Pellegrini had been identified as the club’s top target to replace David Moyes, who left the club at the end of the 2017-18 season. He was chosen ahead of the likes of Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez and Arsenal manager-in-waiting Unai Emery.
The Hammers had been keen to appoint a manager with Premier League experience, and sources have confirmed that Pellegrini is set to be given the chance to bring in his own head of recruitment as co-chairman David Sullivan throws his full weight behind the former Manchester City boss.
Sullivan said: “I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him.
“It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our ambitions.
“Manuel brings a reputation for attacking football and getting the best out of his players. We believe he will attract new talent to the London Stadium as well as improving the current squad.
“Above all, he is a winner, who knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level and is driven to continue that success. Manuel is the first West Ham United manager to have a Premier League title on his CV, and we believe that his experience, quality and proven record of taking teams forward quickly will ensure that he is successful here.
“We have listened to fans who asked us to be ambitious. We hope they agree it is an exciting appointment.
“Manuel will shortly announce the names of the new staff he will bring in and he will then get down to shaping the squad he wants. We all wish him the very best of luck.”
Pellegrini has enjoyed a varied managerial career but has a history of winning trophies, most recently collecting the Premier League and two League Cups during a three-year spell at City. His last post was in China, with Hebei China Fortune.
