Manuel Pellegrini named new West Ham manager on £10m-per-year salary

The Chilean arrives from Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune and is understood to have agreed a deal making him one of the highest paid managers in England

Pellegrini has signed a three-year deal at West Ham (West Ham United FC)

West Ham United have named Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager.

The former Manchester City title-winning boss has penned a three-year deal to replace David Moyes who was allowed to leave the club last week despite guiding the Hammers to Premier League safety.

The Chilean arrives from Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune and is understood to have agreed a £10m-per-year salary at the London Stadium making him one of the highest paid managers in England.

Pellegrini has signed a three-year deal (West Ham United FC)

“I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him," joint-chairman David Sullivan told the club's official website.

“It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our ambitions.

“Manuel brings a reputation for attacking football and getting the best out of his players. We believe he will attract new talent to the London Stadium as well as improving the current squad.

Pellegrini has been managing in China for the last two years, since leaving City at the end of the 2015-16 season. During his three years at City, Pellegrini won the Premier League in 2013-14 season, a success to go with a strong track record earlier in his career.

Pellegrini returns to England after a spell in China (Getty Images)

Pellegrini made his name in Europe inspiring Villarreal to second place in La Liga and the Champions League semi-finals in 2006, before managing Real Madrid for one season and finishing second only to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. In three seasons at Malaga, Pellegrini took them to the Champions League quarter-finals before leaving for City to replace Roberto Mancini in the summer of 2013.

West Ham's pursuit of Pellegrini marks a new ambition from Sullivan after allowing Moyes to leave at the end of the season. Moyes saved West Ham's season after he replaced Slaven Bilic but Sullivan has been determined to appoint a bigger name for next season. West Ham sounded out Rafa Benitez, who they tried to appoint in 2015, but after being frustrated they turned their attention to Pellegrini.