Barclays Premier League strugglers Swansea have announced the appointment of former Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin as their new head coach.

The 60-year-old is the ninth Italian to manage in the division – here, we look at the other eight.

1. Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea, February 1998 to September 2000)

The Premier League’s first Italian boss, who became Chelsea player-manager after replacing the sacked Ruud Gullit and went on to guide the Blues to fourth, third and fifth-placed finishes, as well as the FA Cup, League Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup – not bad for a stint only lasting around two-and-a-half years. He was sacked following an indifferent start to 2000-01.

2. Attilio Lombardo (Crystal Palace, March to April 1998)

Another to be appointed as a player-manager, Lombardo very briefly took over the reins at Palace towards the end of the 1997-98 season – which concluded with the club bottom of the table and Lombardo no longer in the job.

3. Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea, September 2000 to May 2004, Leicester, July 2015 to present)

Vialli’s replacement at Chelsea did not steer the club to any major trophies, but they did finish second in the Premier League and reach the Champions League semi-finals in his final season before he was sacked by Roman Abramovich. His Leicester side are this term’s surprise package and currently top-flight joint-leaders.

4. Gianfranco Zola (West Ham, September 2008 to May 2010)

A former team-mate of Vialli at Chelsea, Zola took on his first role as a number one at West Ham and did well initially, with the team finishing ninth. But it was 17th a year later and he was subsequently sacked.

5. Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, June 2009 to May 2011)

Also thrived in his first season, overseeing a Premier League and FA Cup double, only for second place a year on to lead to his sacking.

6. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City, December 2009 to May 2013)

Another considerable success story – led City to their first major trophy since 1976 with the FA Cup in 2011, and the Premier League title was added the following term. But Mancini’s men could not get out of a Champions League group, and at the end of a 2012-13 season that saw the Blues finish second in the league and lose in the FA Cup final to Wigan, he was dismissed.

7. Roberto Di Matteo (West Brom, August 2010 to February 2011; Chelsea, March to November 2012)

Yet another ex-Chelsea player, who got West Brom promoted to the Premier League in 2009-10 but was relieved of his duties midway through the next season with Albion just above the relegation zone. Then had a short but memorable stint in charge at Stamford Bridge after succeeding Andre Villas-Boas, guiding the Blues to Champions League and FA Cup glory before being axed soon after amid a poor run of form.

8. Paolo Di Canio (Sunderland – March to September 2013)

The combustible former West Ham player came in at Sunderland as replacement for Martin O’Neill, ensured they won their fight to avoid relegation, and then lasted only five games of the following league campaign, being sacked with the Black Cats at the bottom of the table.