Gus Poyet has been appointed head coach of Spanish club Real Betis.

The former Sunderland and Brighton boss has signed a two-year deal with the La Liga side, having managed AEK Athens this season.

Poyet had been linked with the vacant job at Nottingham Forest.

The former Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Uruguay midfielder managed Sunderland between October 2013 and March 2015, leaving the club as they sat 17th in the Premier League table.

But he has rekindled his career this season at Greek giants AEK Athens, in their first season back in the top division after a financially related relegation from the top flight in 2013.

He has lifted the club back up to third and into the UEFA qualification playoffs, one point behind city rivals Panathanaikos during the regular season.

However, he was branded "immoral" by owner Dimitris Melissanidis for announcing his intent to depart at the end of the season.