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Jose Mourinho has been confirmed as the new manager of Manchester United following the sacking of Louis van Gaal.
The 53 year old, who has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford, said; “To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. It is a club known and admired throughout the world.”
Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward added; “Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today.”
He said he had always “felt an affinity with Old Trafford” and claimed he has “always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans”.
The Portuguese has been without a club since his sacking from Premier League rivals Chelsea back in December following a poor run of results, despite lifting the title just seven months prior to his dismissal.
“His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward,” added Woodward.
“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.”
In an exclusive interview with MUTV, Mourinho said he is “in the right moment” to succeed at United, adding the “past three years” did not reflect the club’s history.
The club have struggled since the retirement of legend Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and neither David Moyes or Louis van Gaal could emulate the Scots success and the Premier League’s most prestigious club.
Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace brought the Red Devils their first silverware since Ferguson retired, and Mourinho knows there needs to be a lot more to come.
“It is a giant club. It must be for the best managers,” he said. “I prefer to forget the past three years and focus on the giant club I have in my hands.
“I want to win. What the players need to do is listen. I want to focus on the history of this giant club. I will give everything to go in the direction we all want.”
“The most important thing is the players and my relationship with them.”
In terms of new faces through the doors at Old Trafford, Mourinho and United have been heavily linked with former PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played under Mourinho at Inter Milan.
In addition to new players, the silverware is something both the club and manager will want to increase. Mourinho has won the Premier League on three occasions with Chelsea, in addition to La Liga title with Real Madrid, and Champions League victories with Porto and Inter Milan in 2004 and 2010 respectively.
The widely criticised and controversial manager will bring a new flair to the Premier League heavyweights, something that has certainly been lacking under their previous two managers.
