Zenit St Petersburg have confirmed the appointment of former AS Roma boss Luciano Spalletti as their new manager on a three-year deal.

The Italian tactician has been out of work since resigning at the Stadio Olimpico in September after a poor start to the season, but will now look to revive the fortunes of 2008 UEFA Cup winners after replacing Anatoli Davydov in the hotseat.

Zenit just recently finished third in the Russian Premier League, nine points behind champions Rubin Kazan, and announced that Spalletti was 'unanimously' chosen by the board to become the club's new boss.

A statement from the club read: "The new head coach faces the objectives of regaining the domestic title, gaining regular success in European competitions and establishing firm connections with the youth department."