Jose Mourinho named Manchester United manager: Club confirm appointment on three-year deal

Mourinho replaces Louis van Gaal as United manager with his first priority to get the club back into the Champions League

Jose Mourinho has been named Manchester United manager (Manchester United)

Manchester United have finally confirmed Jose Mourinho as their new manager, four days after they sacked Louis van Gaal following the club’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

Despite winning the FA Cup final last weekend in a 2-1 triumph over Crystal Palace at Wembley, Van Gaal was relieved of his duties on Monday even though he had 12 months left to run on his contract. The decision was taken after United failed to secure a top-four finish, resulting in the club dropping out of the Champions League for the second time in three years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Mourinho had been heavily linked with United since being sacked by Chelsea last December, and the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager has signed a three-year-deal with the option for an extra year, with his new contract worth around £10m per season, the Independent understands.

A statement by the club released on Friday morning read: “Jose Mourinho will take over as manager of Manchester United from the 2016/17 season, signing a three-year contract with an option to stay at the club until at least 2020.

“Jose, 53, has managed at the top level of European football for over a decade and in that time has won league titles and cups in four countries (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain), as well as winning the UEFA Champions League twice – in 2004 with FC Porto and in 2010 with Inter Milan.”

Upon his appointment, Mourinho said: "To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. 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."

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today. 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."