LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Galaxy unveiled Ruud Gullit as their new coach on Friday.
Credited with coining the phrase "sexy football", Gullit was introduced at a news conference at the Home Depot Center at 1: 30 a.m. ET.
British television station Sky Sports, where Gullit has worked as an analyst this season, reported during their Champions League coverage on Wednesday that Gullit would sign a three-year contract to coach the Galaxy.
On Tuesday, Galaxy president Alexi Lalas said he wanted to appoint a "high-profile, sexy type of candidate" as successor to Frank Yallop, who left the club on Sunday night to take over the expansion San Jose Earthquakes.
Names such as Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klinsmann and Fabio Capello had been mentioned as possible candidates.
Gullit's playing career certainly qualifies him. A two-time World Player of the Year and one-time European Footballer of the Year, Gullit collected a string of medals including the Champions League, Italian and Dutch titles during a career that saw him play for Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, Sampdoria and Chelsea.
He also played for the Dutch national team at the European Championships in 1988 and 1992 and the 1990 World Cup. Gullit was regarded as the "total footballer" capable of playing in almost any outfield position.
However, the 45-year-old's coaching career has not been so sparkling. He stepped into management while at Chelsea, taking over as player-manager when Glenn Hoddle left to manage England in 1996.
He guided the Blues to FA Cup glory in 1997 and took them to second in the Premier League, but was then fired for a disagreement with the club's board.
He moved to Newcastle where he took the team to the FA Cup final, but results soon took a turn for the worse and Gullit resigned early in the 1999-2000, just days after benching star striker Alan Shearer in a defeat to arch rivals Sunderland.
Gullit took time out of the sport before returning to management in his homeland with Feyenoord. However, he lasted only one season, guiding the club to fourth place before resigning.
Gullit will face a considerable challenge with the Galaxy.
The roster needs comprehensive rebuilding after a turbulent campaign in which Los Angeles failed to reach the play-offs for a second consecutive season despite the arrival of David Beckham midway through the term.
Expectations will be high when Beckham, hopefully fully fit by then, returns for his first full season next April.
Los Angeles finished fifth in the West with a 9-14-7 record this past season.
