Manchester United finally confirmed the appointment of its new manager, and it’s none other than Portuguese former Chelsea man: Jose Mourinho. The news comes as little surprise to fans and pundits who had been speculating for months on Mourinho’s potential future with Man U.
Mourinho was fired from Chelsea in December after the Premier League club lost nine of their 16 games earlier this season. He’s now signed a three-year deal at Old Trafford, becoming Man Utd’s third manager in three years after the short spells of David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal, both praised too as potential saviors for the legendary club.
We are delighted to announce Jose Mourinho is our new manager! Full statement: https://t.co/PDiHMIWnpd #WelcomeJose pic.twitter.com/eZ8NBSz2up
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 27, 2016
Speaking about his appointment as Man Utd’s new manager, Mourinho said it was a “special honor.”
“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,” Mourinho said.
The former Chelsea boss added he had “ always felt an affinity with Old Trafford ,” which may have come as a bit of a stab in the back to his supporters back at Chelsea, as the Telegraph reported.
Mourinho is known for his abrasive style and he is one of the most divisive figures in the game. But Manchester United’s new boss also has great tactical knowledge and knows how to get the results, and he could well bring a fresh approach to his new players.
Mourinho previously managed the Real Madrid and gave them one of their best seasons (121 goals in the 2011/12 title-winning season, a record in La Liga). He also led Porto to a victory in the 2003 UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League the following year. He then joined Chelsea and won the Premier League with a record 95 points and the League Cup. Chelsea retained the Premier League title the following year and in 2006-07, Mourinho took the club to an FA Cup and League Cup Double before leaving in September 2007.
Mourinho then did a spell at Inter Milan, leading the club to win the treble of Series A, the first time for an Italian club. He won the FIFA World Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and signed with Real Madrid shortly after. In Spain, Mourinho became the fifth coach to have won league titles in at least four different countries, after winning the Copa del Rey and La Liga.
He left Madrid to go back to Chelsea, leading them to another championship victory in 2013.
But Mourinho is also well-known for the classic one-liners he comes up with in post-match conferences, often appearing arrogant and self-assured.
Talking about taking over at Old Trafford, Mourinho assured he would “focus on the history of this giant club” and forget the past three years, assuring he would “give absolutely everything.”
Rumors of Manchester United choosing Mourinho as new manager began a few months ago, as Inquisitr reported.
Although Mourinho’s appointment isn’t making everyone happy, it should make for great football, considering former Chelsea man is now in the same city as his arch enemy, Pep Guardiola.
For former Man Utd player and football legend Eric Cantona, Mourinho wasn’t the best choice to lead Old Trafford: Guardiola was. Celebrating his 50 thbirthday this week, the Frenchman said he loved Mourinho’s “personality” and “passion for the game,” but that he wasn’t the man for the job.
“In terms of the type of football he plays I don’t think he is Manchester United,” Cantona concluded.
But Mourinho’s plans for Old Trafford should be making the summer interesting, as he’s already been linked with Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played for him in Milan and who’s already announced he was leaving Paris St-Germain.
Wales international Gareth Bale has also been rumored to move from the Real Madrid to Old Trafford, which has been interested in him for a long time and could potentially assure him a stable future with the appointment of Mourinho for the coming seasons.
But there’s a man whose future is still uncertain, and that’s Ryan Giggs. He’s said to be “very unhappy” by his demotion by Manchester United’s new manager and prospects of him leaving Old Trafford after 29 years with the club are growing.
After missing out on the golden ticket twice in a row after the appointment of Van Gaal in 2014 and now of Mourinho, it’s believed Giggs may put an end to his relationship with the legendary club. Away on holiday this week, he’s asked for time to reflect on his future.
[Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]