Walter Mazzarri has been confirmed as the new head coach at Watford and will start his role on July 1.
The 54-year-old former Sampdoria, Napoli and Inter Milan coach has signed a three-year contract at Vicarage Road.
Mazzarri will become the eighth head coach to work under the Pozzo family since they completed their takeover of the club in 2012.
Watford parted company with Quique Sanchez Flores at the end of the season, with the Spaniard having steered the Hornets to a 13th-place finish in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-finals.
Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's website: "Walter has been the target of a number of approaches for his services, so we're delighted to secure him as head coach at Watford.
"We're thoroughly looking forward to working with such a highly-regarded coach, with the progress and development of the club always remaining the highest priority."
Mazzarri won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2012 and led the club to a runners-up finish in Serie A the following season.
However, he has been out of work since leaving the San Siro in November 2014, when he was dismissed by Inter following a disappointing 18 month-spell.
Mazzarri started his managerial career in the lower leagues in Italy, guiding Livorno to Serie A promotion before keeping strugglers Reggina in the top flight for three seasons.
He then led Sampdoria to a sixth-place finish in Serie A in 2008, qualifying for Europe, before losing to Lazio in the Coppa Italia final the following season.