Paul Clement has been confirmed as the new Reading boss following Jaap Stam's sacking from the Sky Bet Championship strugglers.
Clement has been out of work since he left Swansea City in December, and has previous managerial experience in the Championship with Derby County.
Reading parted company with Stam with his side facing potential relegation to England's third tier.
Sky Bet Championship relegation (odds via Sky Bet)
- Sunderland - 1/16
- Burton - 1/12
- Birmingham - 4/5
- Barnsley - 11/10
- Reading - 6/1
Reading chief executive Ron Gourlay says he is pleased to bring in a coach who has worked at top European clubs such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
"I am delighted to have secured the services of a hugely experienced forward-thinking manager like Paul, who I have personally worked alongside during our time spent at Chelsea," said Gourlay.
"Not only has he coached at some of the greatest clubs in Europe, winning trophies, league titles and European honours and working with some of the greatest players in the world, fundamentally he also has a rich understanding of English football having managed in both the Championship and the Premier League in recent years.
"Now, everyone at Reading Football Club is fully behind Paul and his squad of players as, together, we initially set our sights on an eight-game battle and continue to strive to take this club forward."
Clement has an impressive coaching CV having worked at Chelsea, Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, while also managing the Swans and at Derby.
He kept the Welsh club in the Premier League last season after a strong run of form but lost his job in December following a tough start to the new term.
Former Ajax assistant boss Stam, who made 67 appearances for Holland as a player, became Reading's first overseas manager when he replaced the sacked Brian McDermott in June 2016.
Stam led the Royals to the Championship play-off final in his first season, but since their defeat on penalties to Huddersfield at Wembley the club has struggled to replicate that form.
Saturday's home defeat to Norwich saw their winless league run extended to nine matches and they sit 20th in the table.
Stam signed a two-year contract when he first arrived at the Madejski Stadium and that was extended by another 12 months in July last year after he guided them to the brink of the Premier League.
Odds correct at 11:10 GMT (23/03/18)
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