Arsenal have named former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery as their new head coach.
Emery completed his two-year stint with PSG as a domestic treble winner this season, although he was unable to deliver the Champions League success the club's Qatari owners craved.
The 46-year-old enjoyed a superb spell in charge of Sevilla, winning the Europa League in three consecutive seasons from 2013-14 to 2015-16 – a competition Arsenal will enter once more next term after a sixth-place Premier League finish.
It marked an underwhelming end to Arsene Wenger's celebrated 22-year reign and one of Emery's primary tasks will be bringing Champions League football back to Emirates Stadium.
"I am thrilled to be joining one of the great clubs in the game," he said in a statement. "Arsenal is known and loved throughout the world for its style of play, its commitment to young players, the fantastic stadium, the way the club is run.
"I'm very excited to be given the responsibility to start this important new chapter in Arsenal’s history."
Emery's designation as head coach - as opposed to manager - is significant and indicates how the new man will fall into line within an Arsenal football structure that includes head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of football relations Raul Sanllehi.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly.
"His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward."
A host of names were heavily linked with becoming Wenger's successor, including former Arsenal captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira, as well as Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and ex-Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.
But Gazidis felt Emery stood out during the recruitment process. No contract length has been confirmed by the club, but his terms are understood to run for two years with an option of a third.
"We conducted a confidential, wide-ranging and rigorous search involving extensive background references, data and video analysis, and personal meetings with all the candidates we shortlisted," Gazidis revealed.
"All were interested in the position and we were unanimous in our choice of Unai to drive the next chapter of our history."
Before his decorated spells at Sevilla and PSG, Emery was in charge of Almeria, Valencia and Spartak Moscow.
"I’m excited about what we can do together and I look forward to giving everyone who loves Arsenal some special moments and memories," Emery added.
Arsenal's majority owner Stan Kroenke said: "We’re delighted to welcome Unai to Arsenal. He’s a proven winner.
"We’re confident that he is the right person for the job and that he will work to deliver the triumphs our fans, staff and everyone who cares about Arsenal want."
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