Dick Advocaat has been appointed as Sunderland's new head coach on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Sunderland parted company with Gus Poyet on Monday, 48 hours after a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa left them just a point above the Premier League relegation zone.
And the club have acted quickly to secure a replacement, confirming the arrival of the former Netherlands, Russia and Zenit boss Advocaat on Tuesday.
Advocaat told Sunderland's official website: "Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"We must now concentrate on Saturday [the trip to West Ham] as a priority and I can't wait to get started."
Chairman Ellis Short added: "Dick has an incredible CV and vast experience of managing at the very highest level.
"We have one aim only now - to climb the table and everyone is fully focused on the task ahead of us."
Advocaat has enjoyed a successful career, winning domestic titles in his native Netherlands with PSV, as well as in Scotland with Rangers and Russia with Zenit.
The 67-year-old also lifted the 2007-08 UEFA Cup during his stint at Zenit, but now switches his attention to a different kind of challenge - ensuring Sunderland avoid the drop to the Championship.
Sunderland have won just four Premier League games all season, and Advocaat's first game in charge is Saturday's tricky trip to West Ham.
Newcastle United then visit the Stadium of Light for the Tyne-Wear derby on April 5.