Burnley have appointed Genk coach Nicky Hayen as their new head coach on a three-year contract.
The 45-year-old Belgian replaces Scott Parker, who left by mutual consent at the end of April when the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League.
Hayen, who played for Welsh club Haverfordwest County between 2021 and 2022, led Genk to seventh place in the Belgian top flight last season.
“I’m delighted to be joining a club with a real history and fans who care deeply about it,” he said on the club’s website.external
“I know that most of them don’t know much about me yet, that’s fair, and I have to change that.”
The Clarets previously approached the Football Association of Wales to appoint Craig Bellamy, who was on staff during Vincent Kompany’s reign, as head coach of the men’s national team, but the move fell through during negotiations over the backroom staff.
Former Wolves manager Rob Edwards also rejected an offer from the Turf Moor club to replace Parker.
Hayen will now join the team on a pre-season tour of the United States.
His first match in charge will be the League Cup first round tie against Notts County on Saturday 8 August.