World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro has joined Saudi Arabian champions Al Nassr as head coach until the end of the season.

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The 42-year-old former Juventus and Real Madrid defender, who captained Italy to the biggest prize in football in 2006, left Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande in May and has now signed on at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Cannavaro takes over from Jorge da Silva, who temporarily placed former Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita in charge following the club’s disastrous start to the Saudi Professional League season.

Da Silva had guided the club to its seventh league title in May, but a run of one victory from the opening four games brought about his exit the Saudi giants. 

Cannavaro will have 22 league games to help his new club retain their title, with his first game set to be against Al Wahda on Thursday.

A statement on Al Nassr’s official website confirmed that while Cannavaro’s initial deal in Riyadh runs to the end of the 2015-16 campaign, it is renewable.