Paulo Sousa was today appointed as Queens Park Rangers' new manager after co-owner Flavio Briatore identified the former Portugal midfielder as the best candidate to lead his side to the top flight.

Sousa, who has been working as assistant to Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz and has no experience in club management, signed a two and-a-half year deal at Loftus Road.

The 38-year-old won 51 caps and enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs including Benfica, Juventus and Inter Milan before he was forced to retire through injury.

Sousa said: "It is an honour to be part of this project. I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers.

"I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management.

"I believe in playing positive, attacking football. To achieve positive results you have to maintain a focused outlook and my team will aim to do this, both for ourselves and for the fans."

Briatore's choice is something of a surprise - it had been reported he was considering appointing himself as Iain Dowie's replacement after the latter left Loftus Road after just 15 games.

Player-coach Gareth Ainsworth had been placed in temporary charge and will stay at the club as part of the coaching staff under Sousa, who will be in the dug-out for Saturday's Championship match against Watford.

Briatore added: "I would like to thank Gareth for his contribution as caretaker and confirm that he still has a very important role to play at this club. He is QPR through and through and will work very closely with Paulo as we build for a successful future.

"Paulo is a very good appointment. I have been keeping track of his work for the last few months and he is the right man."

Briatore and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone completed their takeover of the club just over a year ago and were later joined in their investment by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Back then, Italian Luigi de Canio was in charge but his time at Loftus Road was cut short after only 35 games and he left in May this year.

Although his reign was brief, De Canio won over the club's supporters, who may be sceptical about Sousa's appointment given his lack of management experience and knowledge of the English game - though he does at least speak the language.