Nantes have appointed Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso as the successor to Claudio Ranieri.

Cardoso, 46, guided Rio Ave to a fifth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga last season, thus securing qualification for the Europa League, and he has signed a two-year contract with Nantes.

He was formerly an assistant manager with the likes of Braga, Sporting Lisbon and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ligue 1 side Nantes were looking for a new head coach after former Leicester and Chelsea boss Ranieri decided last month to leave the Stade de la Beaujoire after just one year in charge.

Cardoso, whose appointment was announced with a tweet from Nantes, said: “Proud to join Nantes. A club with a great history, identity and supporters who, like me, are passionate about football. Looking forward to starting work as a Canari!”