Chile name Juan Antonio Pizzi as new national team manager

Leon manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has been announced as the next manager of Chile's national team, succeeding the departed Jorge Sampaoli, who left his post to pursue other opportunities.

Pizzi will take over as the manager of the defending Copa America champions next week and will stay in the position until the end of the 2018 World Cup, according to a statement on the Chilean federation's website.

"We are very pleased with the arrival of Juan Antonio Pizzi. A professional who gives us full confidence, has an established career, has been a champion in Chile and Argentina, in addition to good campaigns in Europe and Mexico," federation president Arturo Salah said.

"Pizzi is the right person to protect and continue the work of the Chilean national team, while maintaining the competitiveness shown in recent years," added Salah.

In addition to overseeing Chile's team throughout World Cup qualification, Pizzi will also be tasked with guiding the squad for the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States and the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia, a tune-up event for the World Cup.

Argentine-born Pizzi, 47, has managed Liga MX club Leon since 2014 and was the boss at Spanish Primera Division club Valencia for a year prior to that.