Sunderland have announced the appointment of Dick Advocaat as head coach until the end of the season.

The Dutchman emerged as the main contender for the position following the sacking of Gus Poyet on Monday.

The Uruguayan was shown the door after the Black Cats slumped to just one point above the relegation zone following Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Today, the North-East outfit welcomed Advocaat to the club, and the 67-year-old takes over with plenty of managerial experience having coached the Netherlands national team, Rangers, Belgium and PSV Eindhoven during his career.

Advocaat told the club's official website: "Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. We must now concentrate on Saturday as a priority and I can't wait to get started."

Chairman Ellis Short added: "Dick has an incredible CV and vast experience of managing at the very highest level. We have one aim only now - to climb the table and everyone is fully focused on the task ahead of us."

Zeljko Petrovic will act as first-team coach alongside Advocaat, while former Swansea City and England Under-20 goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker will also be part of the backroom staff.