PARIS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Oscar Garcia will lead Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne until 2019, the club announced on Thursday.

The 44-year-old Spaniard signed a two-year contract with Saint-Etienne, who ranked eighth in the 2016-2017 season.

Garcia quit from the Watford coaching job due to health reasons in 2014. He took over the rein in Red Bull Salzburg in Austria one year later, and led the team to finish a double of league and cup titles for two seasons in a row. In just one and a half years, Garcia stood out among coaches with the most titles in club history.

"We have studied a large number of applications. Oscar Garcia is the perfect option. He is competent, as proven by his success with Salzburg, also passionate, experienced and innovative. I am convinced that he will lead the team forward," said Saint-Etienne president Roland Romeyer.

Garcia replaced Christophe Galtier, who made a decision to leave after spending the past seven and a half years with the team. Enditem