Rossi has signed a contract with the Rosaneri until June 2011.

A statement from the club read: "US Palermo announces it has appointed Delio Rossi as the coach of the first team.

"The coach has signed a contract until June 30, 2011, with an option for the club to extend the contract for a further campaign.

"Rossi will be unveiled to the media tomorrow morning."

The 49-year-old Rossi made his name at Lazio, where he guided the club to the Coppa Italia in the 2008-09 campaign.

He left Lazio in the summer after four seasons at the club.

After a bright start, Palermo have slipped to 12th in the Serie A table, with 17 points from 13 matches. The Sicilian giants travel to Verona to meet Chievo on Sunday looking for their first win since October 25.

Zenga earlier expressed his surprise at Palermo's decision to sack him.

The 49-year-old was dismissed after Sunday's 1-1 draw against Catania, the club he coached prior to joining Palermo this summer.

"I honestly didn't expect this," said Zenga. "I am extremely disappointed but I don't want to talk in the heat of the moment.

"I spoke to Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini this morning but I will speak to the press on Wednesday."

Zenga, who was under contract with Palermo until June 2012, became the seventh coach to be dismissed in Serie A this season.

The former Inter Milan player had reason to be perplexed having been given a vote of confidence by Zamparini ahead of Sunday's game.

However, a recent run of poor form which had seen Palermo go without a win since October 25 and drop to 12th in Serie A after 13 games, marked the end of Zenga's brief spell in charge.