Jose Mourinho confirmed as Manchester United manager on a three-year contract

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.

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.
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.
‘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.’