Soccer: Andre-Villas Boas has been confirmed as Tottenham's new head coach. The 34-year-old's appointment marks his return to the Barclays Premier League just four months after his departure from Chelsea, where he was sacked eight months into a three-year contract.

The 34-year-old's appointment marks his return to the Barclays Premier League just four months after his departure from Chelsea, where he was sacked eight months into a three-year contract.

Villas-Boas will be hoping to rebuild his reputation at Spurs after succeeding Harry Redknapp, who left the post last month after four years at the helm.

A post on the club's official Twitter account read: "The club is delighted to announce Andre Villas-Boas as head coach."

Villas-Boas has penned a three-year deal at White Hart Lane and brings with him two members of his coaching staff in the form of first-team fitness coach Jose Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa, head of opposition scouting.

"Tottenham Hotspur is a great club with a strong tradition and fantastic support, both at home and throughout the world," Villas-Boas told the club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com.

"I feel privileged to be its coach. For me, this is one of the most exciting coaching positions in the Premier League. I have had several discussions with the chairman and the board and I share their vision for the future progress of the club.

"This is a squad any coach would love to work with and together I believe we can bring success in the seasons ahead."

Tuesday's announcement ends weeks of speculation following Redknapp's departure and chairman Daniel Levy believes Villas-Boas is the right choice for the club.

"I am delighted that Andre has agreed to become our new head coach," he said. "He has an outstanding reputation for his technical knowledge of the game and for creating well-organised teams capable of playing football in an attractive and attacking style.

"Andre shares our long-term ambitions and ethos of developing players and nurturing young talent, and he will be able to do so now at a new world class training centre."

Levy added: "We are constantly looking to move the club forward. It is important that we now look to develop the potential within the squads at all levels, whilst strengthening the first-team in the summer in key positions with players who will become part of the future success of the club."

Villas-Boas will now doubtless be charged with ensuring Tottenham qualify for the Champions League next season.

Spurs were denied a return to the competition by Chelsea's astonishing Munich triumph, which rendered their fourth-place finish not good enough for qualification.

It means the north Londoners will instead play in the Europa League - the competition which helped establish Villas-Boas as one of the most sought-after coaches in the world.

His first full season as a boss saw him win an unprecedented quadruple at Porto, which included masterminding an unbeaten league campaign.

Villas-Boas' reputation has been tarnished somewhat since then by his ill-fated spell at Chelsea, which was dogged by claims of player unrest.

The Portuguese coach will now be looking to make amends at Spurs, where his first task will be to try to ensure they do not lose any of their star names.

While Gareth Bale has penned a four-year contract, doubts persist over the future of Luka Modric.

The Croatia international was denied a move to Villas-Boas' Chelsea last year and has been strongly linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid.