Jose Mourinho confirmed as Manchester United manager on a three-year contract as new boss hails club with 'mystique and a romance about it no other can match'
- Manchester United announce Jose Mourinho at the club's new manager
- The 53-year-old has signed a three-year deal to take charge at Old Trafford
- Former Chelsea boss spoke of a 'special honour' on deal's confirmation
- United chief Ed Woodward labelled Mourinho 'the best manager today'
- Mourinho replaces Louis van Gaal as boss, who was sacked on Monday
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Jose Mourinho has spoken of the 'special honour' to manage Manchester United after being confirmed as their new manager on a three-year contract with the option of an extra year.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward hailed the former Chelsea boss as 'the best manager in the game today' after the club broke the news on football's worst-kept secret on Friday morning.
Mourinho will earn £45million over the course of his three-year contract and work has already started on a summer recruitment drive with £200m available to create a squad capable of a Premier League title challenge.
Jose Mourinho poses with a Manchester United shirt after being confirmed as the club's new manager
The new Manchester United manager posted this image of his contract with the club on Instagram
The arrival of the former Chelsea boss was welcomed by this image posted by United on Friday
Mourinho has signed a three-year contract with the option of a fourth year at Old Trafford included
The former Chelsea manager will be back on the touchline at Old Trafford, but now as the home side's boss
'To become Manchester United manager is a special honour 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.'
FA Cup winners United sacked Louis van Gaal following their Wembley win against Crystal Palace and immediately set about finalising Mourinho's arrival.
sportsmail revealed on Monday that the Old Trafford club had already paid The Special One £4m not to take a job elsewhere while they decided on the future of his predecessor.
The finer details of his contract were ironed out with United chief Woodward this week before the announcement of Mourinho's arrival was made at 9.30am on Friday morning.
'Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today,' 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 pictured getting into the passenger side of a Range Rover parked outside his home on Thursday
Mourinho is said to have been impressed at the work United have already done on players he would like to sign
'I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.'
Although no official confirmation has been offered on his backroom staff, Mourinho will bring long-term lieutenants Rui Faria and Silvino Louro with him to United.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December after a disastrous start to their Premier League title defence that saw the Blues languishing in 16th place.
The success of the season previous brought the Portuguese coach a third crown from the English top division and his immediate aim will be to secure a fourth at United when the new season begins in August.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3610263/Jose-Mourinho-confirmed-Manchester-United-manager-three-year-contract.html#ixzz49qWvgmfS
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