Real Betis have hired Gus Poyet as manager on a two-year deal.

Poyet had been in charge most recently of AEK Athens.

Poyet was formerly manager of Brighton and Sunderland, while also being linked recently to Nottingham Forest.

A statement from the club read: “Real Betis have signed Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet as new Betis coach for the next two seasons. Poyet will be one of the cornerstones of the new sports project headed by Miguel Torrecilla.

“Real Betis want to especially thank the work done by Juan Merino and his coaching staff this season, who has managed to ward off the team from the lower part of the division.”