Watford have appointed Roy Hodgson as their new manager.

The former England and Liverpool boss, 74, returns to the Premier League after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

The Hornets sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday, the 15th managerial change since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012.

Hodgson will be tasked with securing Premier League survival as they sit 19th, two points from safety.

Ray Lewington, who managed Watford between 2002 and 2005, will join as assistant, filling the same position he did under Hodgson for England and Palace.

The club have not announced the length of Hodgson's contract.

Watford acted quickly to find a successor to Ranieri, whose last game in charge was Friday's 3-0 home defeat by relegation-rivals Norwich.

Hodgson's first game will be away to Burnley, who are bottom of the table, on 5 February.