Villas-Boas to take reins at Zenit

Andre Villas-Boas has agreed a two-year deal to become the new head coach of Zenit.

The Portuguese has been out of work since leaving English Premier League side Tottenham in December by mutual consent, following a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

Villas-Boas will take over at Zenit on Thursday, after the second leg of the club’s UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, and replaces former incumbent Luciano Spalletti, who was ousted from his position after a goalless draw with Tom Tomsk earlier this month.

A statement on Zenit’s website read: “Zenit has agreed terms on a contract with new head coach Andre Villas-Boas.

“The contract will be signed and Mr Villas-Boas will be presented in St Petersburg as Zenit’s new head coach on March 20.

“Mr Villas-Boas’ contract begins in March, 2014, and is valid for two seasons.”

Villas-Boas began his coaching career in Portugal with Academica before moving to Porto in June 2010, where he won a treble of the Primeira Liga, Taca de Portugal and UEFA Europa League in his one season with the club.

A move to England followed, where he enjoyed a forgettable spell with Chelsea between June 2011 and March 2012 before spending almost 18 months at Tottenham.

Spalletti had been at Zenit since December 2009 and won two Russian Premier League titles, as well as enjoying success in the Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup.

Zenit also progressed from the Champions League group stage this season under the Italian’s stewardship, but Sergei Semak will be in charge for the second leg against Dortmund on Wednesday as the club look to overturn a 4-2 deficit.