Lee Man have ended their three-month hunt for a new head coach after settling on Giancarlo Italiano as the one to lead the club “into its new chapter”.

Although they did not specify the length of the Australian’s contract, Lee Man said he had been hired to “bring a new perspective to the team, while helping to enhance competitiveness on and off the pitch”.

Previously in charge of Wellington Phoenix for 2½ years, Italiano quit his job with the New Zealanders in February after a 5-0 home defeat by Auckland FC.

Commonly known as Chief, the 43-year-old led Wellington to their best A-League finish when they came second in his first campaign in charge in the 2023-24 season.

Norman Lee Man-yan, the club president, had previously said his preferred candidate from more than 50 applicants was a European who had coached in Indonesia and the Middle East.

The South China Morning Post has been told that one manager rejected the post because he could not agree on a suitable package with the club.