Soccer:Inter Milan today confirmed the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as coach on a deal until June 2013. Former Valencia, Chelsea and Roma boss Ranieri succeeds Gian Piero Gasperini, who was sacked yesterday after a short, unsuccessful spell in charge.

Ranieri’s first game will be on Saturday at Bologna.

Inter sacked Gasperini after Tuesday’s shocking 3-1 defeat at newly-promoted Novara — the team’s fourth loss in five games this season. Ranieri, 59, becomes Inter’s fifth coach in the past 15 months.

Gasperini was appointed in June after Leonardo elected to leave the Nerazzurri and become the sporting director at Paris St Germain.

Leonardo had replaced Rafael Benitez in December. Spaniard Benitez had been brought in six months earlier following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid. Ranieri had been out of a job since leaving Roma earlier this year.

News of Ranieri’s appointment had been widely expected after he gave an interview vowing to “wake up the team”. Ranieri told Domenica Sportiva: “Inter are a great team.

“They have had a bad start to the season and I will have to talk to the team to understand why that was. I will have to bring enthusiasm and a change of gear in order to wake up the team.

“I cannot promise that we will win this or that but I believe this team has a lot to give and we must prove it.”

Ranieri praised Gasperini’s efforts despite his short tenure at the club.

“Gasperini wanted to bring his ideas and make them work at all costs but he didn’t manage to do it,” the 59-year-old said. “I will try to make this team play as it knows how, with all of its strength.

“Gasperini didn’t make a mistake and we have to say well done because he tried everything to make his ideas work.”