Rafa Benitez has been confirmed as the new coach of Inter Milan, signing a two-year deal at the San Siro.

Inter, the Italian and European champions, moved swiftly to snap up Benitez, who left Liverpool last week, as they sought a replacement for Jose Mourinho. He will be presented at the Appiano Gentile sports centre near the northern city of Milan on Tuesday.

Inter welcomes Rafael Benitez.
Inter Milan club statement

"Inter welcomes Rafael Benitez. This morning, the two-year deal tying the Spanish coach to the club until June 30, 2012 was finalised with mutual satisfaction," said a club statement.

Benitez parted company with Liverpool after guiding the English giants to a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.

The Spanish coach had enjoyed a golden start to his Anfield tenure, inspiring the club to their fifth European Cup title in 2005 as they came back from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties on a memorable night in Istanbul.

Benitez is a renowned operator on the European stage, having also led Valencia to UEFA Cup glory in 2004, and his challenge at the San Siro will be to continue the work of Mourinho after the Portuguese ended Inter's 45-year wait for the top prize in club football, part of a unique treble of Serie A, Italian Cup and UEFA Champions League titles last month.