Since sacking Brendan Rodgers on April 2 following a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, the Foxes have been looking for a permanent manager.
Former Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch was said to be in negotiations with the relegation-threatened club.
Smith will take over a team that is in the relegation zone, with only two points separating them from safety heading into their last eight games.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the team in these final weeks of the season,” Smith said on the club’s website.
“The challenge in front of us is clear, but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before and, with the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.”
Smith has been out of work since being sacked as Norwich City manager in December, but he has considerable experience of managing in the top flight, having taken charge of 114 Premier League games as manager of the Canaries and Aston Villa.
The arrival of the 52-year-old coincides with the return of Craig Shakespeare, who will act as Smith’s assistant manager.
Shakespeare worked as an assistant for both Nigel Pearson and Claudio Ranieri at Leicester City before taking over as manager in 2017.
Smith Smith’s backroom team will include former England captain John Terry, who previously worked with Smith at Aston Villa.
Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell will both remain with the club as first-team coaches after taking charge of Leicester’s past two games.
Smith, who has previously coached Walsall and Brentford, will begin his tenure with a challenging away journey to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to face Manchester City, the reigning Premier League winners.
Leave a Reply