Crystal Palace announce the appointment of former Inter Milan boss Frank de Boer on three-year deal
Dutch legend was chairman Steve Parish's first choice to take over from Sam Allardyce
CRYSTAL PALACE have confirmed Frank de Boer as their new manager.
The Dutch legend was chairman Steve Parish's first choice to take over from Sam Allardyce ahead of the upcoming campaign.
And he takes charge at Selhurst Park on a three-year deal worth around £2.5million per season.
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Parish said of the appointment: “We have undertaken a thorough interview process to ensure we are in a position to appoint a manager of the calibre and experience that Frank brings with him.
"I am pleased to welcome him to Crystal Palace and I know he cannot wait to get started and prepare for our record-breaking fifth season in the top flight."
Palace had been in the hunt for a new boss since Allardyce's shock walk-out just weeks after guiding the club to Premier League safety.
De Boer becomes the South London club's third manager in 12 months after Alan Pardew was sacked in December and will be tasked with keeping them in the top flight.
The 47-year-old said it is a "great honour" to be handed his first crack at the Premier League.
He said: "I am thrilled to be appointed as manager of Crystal Palace Football Club.
"It is a great honour to take charge of such an historic club, a club that is known around the world for its hugely proud and passionate fan base.
"This role is a hugely exciting opportunity for me, and I cannot wait to get started in the Premier League with the players and staff here in South London.”
His first job will be to keep hold of stars including Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha, who have been rumoured to leave the club this summer.
Frank de Boer factfile
- Born in Hoorn in Holland in 1970 along with twin brother Ronald before the pair went on to have a remarkable career together.
- Began his career as left back for Ajax where he won five Eredivisie titles, the Uefa Cup and the Champions League in 1995.
- De Boer went on to make 328 appearances for Ajax before Louis van Gaal’s famous 1995 team featuring Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert were sold off one-by-one.
- He starred for Holland at France 98 as they went on to reach the semi-finals before being beaten by Brazil.
- Louis van Gaal bought both De Boer brothers to Barcelona for £22million in January 1999 and he went on to play four seasons at the Nou Camp winning the La Liga title in his first season.
- He was part of the Dutch team that were knocked out of Euro 2000 by Italy after a semi-final shootout.
- De Boer tested positive for nandrolone in 2001 and was initially banned but later reinstated on appeal.
- He had a brief stint at Galatasaray in 2003.
- De Boer then joined Rangers where his brother Ronald was already playing and played 17 games for the Glasgow club.
- The pair then moved to Al-Rayyan in 2004 before retiring in 2006.
- De Boer took up coaching at Ajax in 2007 and was named first-team coach in December 2010 after Martin Jol resigned.
- He resigned in May 2016 following a disappointing season but was snapped up by Inter in August.
- But a poor run of results led to his departure after just three months in charge.
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De Boer arrives with a pedigree which rivals the world's best players, with 112 caps to his name.
After hanging up his boots he took up a coaching role at Ajax before being named Holland's assistant manager to Bert van Marwijk.
He then took the Ajax job on a permanent basis and guided them to four league titles before taking over from Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan.
But his stint in Serie A was a disaster having lasted just 85 days in the job.