SWANSEA APPOINTS FRANCESCO GUIDOLIN AS HEAD COACH.

Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Francesco Guidolin as head coach until the end of the season.

The 60-year-old arrived in Wales on Monday afternoon to complete his short-term move, which will see him work alongside Alan Curtis, although Guidolin will have the final say on team selection. 

He will be in the crowd at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night as Swansea attempt to salvage their dire season against Watford. 

His prospects of staying at the club beyond the summer depend on whether he can save Swansea from relegation, though it is understood that other candidates, including Brendan Rodgers, will be considered if they stay up. 

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins declared his delight at the appointment of the experienced Italian:

He told the club website: 'We are very pleased with the appointment. His experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to the club.

'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. 

'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.

'Both parties have agreed to review the position at the end of the season with the option of extending the contract.' 

It is a surprising U-turn from Swansea, who this month named Curtis as interim manager until the end of the season. As recently as Sunday morning, senior members of the club hierarchy were adamant Curtis would remain in sole charge, despite Swansea slipping into the bottom three.

However, the club felt compelled to act following talks with the Italian at the weekend. It is a left-field appointment by the club and one which has stunned employees at the club.

But Guidolin is hugely experienced, having taken charge at 13 clubs in 18 different spells, though there will be a concern that his only position outside Italy was an underwhelming season at Monaco a decade ago.

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However, his most recent management job, spanning four years at Udinese from 2010, brought huge success, with the club finishing third and fourth in Serie A and twice qualifying for the Champions League. He has also overseen three promotions for clubs in Italy, as well as winning the Italian Cup with Vicenza.

More recently, he has been working as technical advisor for the three teams controlled by the Pozzo family - Watford, Udinese and Granada.

It is the latest stage in a difficult and drawn-out recruitment process for Swansea, which saw chairman Huw Jenkins admit he has faced numerous knockbacks after sacking Garry Monk. Certainly, there has been an air of desperation about the search.

Jenkins' first choice was Rodgers, who is still keen on a Liberty Stadium return down the line, while Dennis Bergkamp was on the shortlist and a trip to South America failed to land Marcelo Bielsa.

The new man inherits a club in desperate need a striker and in greater need of victories, with Swansea having won only once in 11 Premier League games.