Claudio Ranieri has signed a two-year contract to coach Greece's national football team, replacing Fernando Santos after he guided the Greeks to the second round at the World Cup in Brazil.

Ranieri, a 62-year-old Italian, signed the deal Friday and will prepare Greece for European Championship qualifying.

Ranieri moved to Greece from French club Monaco, which finished second in the league last season behind Paris Saint-Germain. He has coached more than a dozen European clubs, including Chelsea, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.

Greece is hoping to qualify for its sixth major tournament in 12 years, and faces Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, and the Faeroe Islands in Group F.