MOSCOW (AFP) - Three-time Russian football champions Zenit St Petersburg have reached an agreement with Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas to become its new manager, the club press service announced on Tuesday.

The club said in a statement that the former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach will officially sign an the agreement with Zenit on March 20 to succeed Italian Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked last week.

The contract with the 36-year-old manager will last for two seasons, the report said.

Villas-Boas will be looking for strong spell at Zenit after stints at Chelsea and Tottenham ended with him being fired by the clubs and eroded his reputation as one of the world's most promising young managers.