Reuters - Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune have appointed former Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager, Chinese and British media reported on Saturday.

Pellegrini guided City to their first Champions League semi-final last season, but announced in February that he would leave the Etihad Stadium on June 30. The Premier League club immediately named former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola as his successor.

The 62-year-old Chilean, who won the Premier League and two League Cups with City after taking over in 2013, joins big-name coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson of Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou Evergrande's Luis Felipe Scolari in China.

Hebei, who are fifth in the Chinese Super League standings, face leaders Guangzhou on Sept 10.