Inter Milan has appointed Claudio Ranieri as its new coach, the Serie A club said on its website yesterday.

"Claudio Ranieri is now officially Inter's new coach," read a statement on Inter.it. "The coach has signed a two-year contract with the club up until 30 June 2013."

Ranieri, who becomes Inter's fourth coach since Jose Mourinho led it to the Champions League title 16 months ago, takes over from Gian Piero Gasperini who was sacked on Wednesday after three months in charge following a disastrous start to the season.

The Nerazzurri were beaten by city rival AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup, defeated at home by Trabzonspor in their opening Champions League fixture and on Tuesday were beaten by Serie A newcomers Novara.

"Inter are a great team," Ranieri told Italy's state television Rai on Wednesday. "They have had a bad start to the season and I will have to talk to the team to understand why that was."