The deal had long been in the works but the 65-year-old former Pescara boss - famous in Italy for his often controversial musings on the game - has finally put pen to paper on a two-year deal, the club said in a short statement.
He replaces Spaniard Luis Enrique, who quit last month at the end of the season after American-owned Roma lost 14 league matches and failed to qualify for European competition.
Zeman, who was born in Prague but is a naturalised Italian, managed Roma between 1997 and 1999 and the exciting style of football his side played left a deep impression on their supporters and enamoured club captain Francesco Totti.
Zeman's Pescara were promoted to Serie A last season with a team that drew plaudits for their attacking prowess.
Alexia Putellas: "We’re already the only club to have won the men’s and women’s Champions League, so the only thing even more historic to do than that would be to win it in the same season"
‘Trent has won everything he can for Liverpool, but of those who’ve left that we wanted to stay, who’s actually done better? I can only come up with one’: Reds legend highlights potential danger of Alexander-Arnold moving to Real Madrid
