Manchester United yesterday named Jose Mourinho as their new manager in place of the sacked Louis van Gaal.
The club said in a statement that the 53-year-old Portuguese coach had signed a three-year contract with an option to stay until “at least 2020.”
“To become Manchester United manager is a special honor in the game,” Mourinho said. “It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match. I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it has hosted some important memories for me in my career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans. I’m looking forward to being their manager and enjoying their magnificent support in the coming years.”
Photo: AFP
Media reports said Mourinho would earn up to £15 million (US$21.97 million) a year and would have a £200 million fund to buy players for United who failed to qualify for the Champions League with their fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
“Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today,” United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said. “He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.”
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December last year, but has established a reputation as one of the best coaches of all time.
He has won league titles and cups in four countries with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid. He won the Champions League in 2004 with Porto and in 2010 with Inter.
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