Jose Mourinho was yesterday named as the new coach of Inter, the Italian club announced.
The 45-year-old Portuguese former Chelsea manager signed a three-year contract.
The club said Mourinho would be presented at a news conference today.
Inter did not reveal the value of Mourinho’s contract, but the Italian press have speculated that the coach would earn almost 9 million euros (US$14 million) a season.
“F.C. Internazionale announces the arrival of Jose Mourinho,” the club said on its Web site. “The Portuguese coach has signed a three-year contract and will work alongside Rui Farias, Silvino and Andrei Villas Boas.”
Mourinho’s assistant coach will be former Inter and Italy midfielder Giuseppe Baresi, previously in charge of the club’s youth teams, it said.
Mourinho replaces Roberto Mancini who was sacked as coach of the Serie A champions on Thursday, despite having just led them to a third successive league title.
“Thanking Roberto Mancini and his staff for the success obtained in four seasons as the leader of the team, all of Internazionale has the great pleasure to welcome Jose Mourinho and his coaches,” the club said.
Mourinho has been out of the game since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent early last season.
He had won two Premier League titles with the London club, the FA Cup and two League Cups in just over three seasons.
Before that he coached FC Porto to the Champions League crown, UEFA Cup, two league titles and a Portuguese Cup in an incredible two-year period from 2002-2004.
After a modest playing career, Mourinho took his first steps on the coaching ladder in 1992 as interpreter for former England manager Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, taking over as assistant coach from 1994-1996
Chelsea midfielders Frank Lampard and Michael Essien and Barcelona duo Deco and Samuel Eto’o are among the transfer targets Mourinho wants his new club to aim for, according to media reports.
The charismatic 45-year-old has long been linked with the Inter hot seat.
The speculation intensified after Inter’s defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 in March, when Mancini put his position in doubt by saying he would quit at the end of the season only to change his mind the following day.
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