Patrick Vieira appointed as New York City FC head coach

Vieira has signed a three-year contract with the club and takes up his role on 1 January 2016 in advance of pre-season for its second MLS campaign.

The 39-year-old Frenchman, who was capped 107 times for France and notched up 279 appearances for Arsenal, finally makes the move after being linked with the move for a number of weeks.

Vieira has coached the youth and reserve teams at New York's parent club Manchester City.

Vieira will take charge of a New York City side that includes some of the best talent of yesteryear, including Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Frank Lampard.

Indeed Lampard admitted in an interview in 2004 that he and his new coach haven't always seen eye-to-eye.

"We had a few problems, me and him. I pushed him over when I was 19 and he kicked me in the groin," the Chelsea legend said.

"The stud marks were there for ages, it looked terrible. That carried on for a couple of years."

Now their relationship is very different and there is a mutual respect between two of the Premier League's most successful ever players.

"I respect him and he respects me," said Lampard. "If you are not at your best then he will eat you alive. He's got those long legs that tackle you and drag the ball round you.

"He always comes through in the big games, and he has the ability to surprise you as well. He was the last person you expected to see running on to a Dennis Bergkamp pass at Stamford Bridge to score."