Former Chelsea boss Ranieri, who led Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016, agreed a two-year contract with the Hornets to switch the sacked Xisco Munoz.
“Watford FC is delighted to confirm the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as the club’s new head coach, on a two-year contract,” an announcement on the membership’s web site introduced.
“The Italian arrives at Vicarage Road boasting a wealth of experience in charge of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Premier League, Coppa Italia and Copa del Rey titles among his managerial highlights.”
Ranieri takes over with Watford in fifteenth place within the Premier League after incomes seven factors from their opening seven matches.
The 69-year-old Italian left Sampdoria on the finish of final season and had been trying to return to the sport since then.
Xisco had led Watford to promotion from the Championship final season, however he was axed on Sunday after solely 10 months in cost.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Leeds prompted Watford’s house owners, the Pozzo household, to behave, with the membership claiming a “negative trend” in performances had satisfied them to maneuver on from Xisco.
Ranieri is Watford’s thirteenth everlasting supervisor because the Pozzo household took management of the membership in 2012.
He boasts a wealth of expertise, with golf equipment similar to Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid additionally on his CV.
Ranieri established Chelsea as a Champions League membership throughout his spell from 2000 to 2004, however he was axed by Roman Abramovich to make method for Jose Mourinho.
His biggest triumph got here when he masterminded Leicester’s gorgeous title success 5 years in the past.
The Foxes had been 5,000-1 outsiders and had battled relegation the season earlier than Ranieri arrived in a transfer that was broadly panned by pundits.
Despite Leicester’s unbelievable success, he was sacked simply 9 months after the title glory following a poor run that left the membership simply outdoors the relegation zone.
Ranieri final labored within the Premier League throughout a quick stint at Fulham in 2018-19.
He lasted simply 106 days at Fulham after being unable to steer them away from relegation bother.
Watford’s first match with Ranieri in cost can be towards Liverpool at Vicarage Road on October 16.
Ranieri can be joined at Watford by Assistant Coaches Paolo Benetti and Carlo Cornacchia, in addition to Fitness Coach Carlo Spignoli.
