FC Metalist Kharkiv has appointed former Danish football player Frank Arnesen as its new sporting director, the club's press service has reported.

He had previously occupied similar posts at Tottenham, Chelsea and Hamburg. The 57-year-old expert will take up his duties on February 1, 2014. The contract with him was signed for two-and-a-half years.

"The club's president, Serhiy Kurchenko, has repeatedly declared his readiness to strengthen Metalist with world-class staff, and we hope that with the arrival of Frank Arnesen the team will get new experience and achieve high results," the club's first vice-president, Serhiy Volyk, said, while commenting on the appointment.

"We are grateful to Yevhen Krasnikov for what he has done for the club, and we regret that due to the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne he must leave the post of sporting director."

"I'm glad to have joined the team of the Metalist club," Arnesen said.

"I'm grateful to President Serhiy Kurchenko for the opportunity. He has very ambitious plans, and I am confident that with this owner the club has a great future. Major goals that we set for ourselves are to win the Ukrainian Premier League and perform in the Champions League with dignity. I am very pleased to be working with Myron Markevych and I am confident that together we will earn new victories and achieve significant results."