Albert Ferrer was presented as the new coach of Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse on Thursday in Arnhem.
The 40-year-old former FC Barcelona player signed a contract until the middle of 2012.
For personal reasons he will not start earlier than November 15 and will make his debut in the home match against Heracles Almelo on November 20. Ferrer succeeds Theo Bos, who was fired last week. Current interim-coach Hans van Arum will stay on as assistant.
Ferrer was color commentator for Spanish television and also worked as youth coach for FC Barcelona. He does not have any experience as head coach.
"I had some offers in the past, but then I wasn't ready yet. I don't think my lack of experience is a problem," he said.
Vitesse owner Merab Jordania from Georgia, who took over the club earlier this year, aims for a league title in the coming years.
"That's possible," Ferrer stated. "But there is a lot of work to do. I like the style of FC Barcelona, but no other club has such good players."
He took another former youth coach from his home town club, Albert Capellas Herms, with him as assistant. Former Ajax goalkeeper Stanley Menzo also arrived as new assistant-coach. Menzo resigned his job as head coach of Cambuur Leeuwarden earlier this week.
Having represented FC Barcelona as a youth player, Ferrer was part of the so called Dream Team under Dutch coach Johan Cruijff in the nineties. Highlight of that period was the victory in the 1992 European Champions Cup final. Ferrer moved to Chelsea in 1998 and finished his career in 2003.