Hodgson arrived at Vicarage Road simply 24 hours after Ranieri was sacked on Monday following Watford's slump into the Premier League relegation quarter remaining weekend.
"Watford FC is overjoyed to verify the appointment of Roy Hodgson as the membership's supervisor," a announcement stated.
"The ex-England countrywide group boss is joined by means of his relied on assistant Ray Lewington, who managed the Hornets so admirably from 2002 till 2005."
Hodgson left Crystal Palace at the cease of remaining season, with many believing his go out might mark the stop of a prominent education profession.
Instead, the 74-year-old will take rate of a sixth specific Premier League membership, with the task of ensuring Watford do no longer make a direct return to the Championship.
"Best recognized for leading the Three Lions at some point of a 4-year spell which took in Euro 2012, World Cup 2014 and Euro 2016, Hodgson has additionally controlled extensively at membership level in England and across the world," Watford's assertion delivered.
"Most considerably on this u . S . A ., he led Fulham to their highest ever Premier League end and Europa League qualification, wherein the Cottagers knocked out the likes of Juventus, Wolfsburg and Hamburg on their way to the very last, sooner or later losing to Atletico Madrid."
Ranieri changed into sacked on Monday after a 3-0 domestic defeat towards fellow strugglers Norwich left Watford nineteenth within the table, factors from protection.
The nicely-travelled Italian lasted simplest 14 video games after replacing Xisco Munoz in October, triumphing simply of those.
