Ranieri appointed Parma coach

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has been named the new coach of Serie A strugglers Parma.

Ranieri replaces Stefano Pioli, who was sacked after Saturday's 3-0 loss at Roma - a result that leaves the club 19th in Serie A with 15 points from 22 games.

Ranieri, also the former coach of Valencia, has been out of management since February 2005 and working as a television pundit.

This is his first job in Italy since he left Fiorentina for Spain a decade ago.

Pioli's reign proved to be a short one. He joined the club in the summer, helping the club reach the UEFA Cup round of 32, in which they will face Portugal's SC Braga on Thursday.

However, the club's perilous league position cost him his job.