Dundee United have appointed their former striker Mixu Paatelainen as head coach.
The 48-year-old Finn played at Tannadice between 1987 and 1992.
He has managerial experience in Scotland with Cowdenbeath, Hibernian and Kilmarnock and succeeds Jackie McNamara in the United dugout.
"I am delighted to welcome Mixu back to the club as our new head coach," United chairman Stephen Thompson told the club website.
"He served United with distinction as a player and will do the same as a manager. His desire to come back to the club was clear from the first minute we spoke. He was the first person we spoke to and also the last.
"His experience combined with his vision and enthusiasm for the club made him the standout candidate and we are thrilled to announce his appointment."
Paatelainen succeeds Jackie McNamara as boss of the Tannadice club currently sitting bottom of the table.
United are also understood to have spoken to former West Brom head coach Alan Irvine and former Rangers and Motherwell boss Stuart McCall.
They were also denied permission to speak to St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright, who subsequently signed an extended contract in Perth.
United also approached Inverness over John Hughes, who is believed to have a £150,000 compensation clause in his contract, and that move was rejected.
But Paatelainen was an obvious target given his availability, links with United and his impressive work at Kilmarnock, which won him the SPL manager of the year award in 2011 after leading them into the top six with an attractive brand of football.
The 48-year-old withdrew his application to be Motherwell manager to focus on getting the Tannadice job and his approach paid off.
He wwas due to speak to the media at Tannadice on Wednesday afternoon and takes charge of the team for the first time when United host Hearts on Sunday.
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