Manchester United confirm the appointment of Jose Mourinho on Thursday after negotiating a £10m-a-year,
three-year contract with the former Chelsea manager.
Following days of talks
between United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Mourinho’s agent, Jorge
Mendes, the 53-year-old will be officially announced as Old Trafford’s third
manager in three years on Thursday following the sack of Louis van Gaal in the
wake of the club’s FA Cup success at the weekend and fifth
finish in the league.
Mourinho is expected to earn
double the £5m-a-year salary paid to Van Gaal after being handed the challenge of restoring United
to the summit of English and European football.
The former Porto, Real Madrid
and Inter Milan coach will also secure bonuses of £5m and £2.5m respectively if
he guides United to the Champions League and Premier League titles during the
length of his contract.
Despite the complexities of
Mourinho’s commercial agreements with the likes of Jaguar and Hublot Watches,
which could potentially clash with United’s deals with general Motors and
Bulova, and the manager’s image rights being held by Chelsea, Woodward and
Mendes were forced to unpick the off-field complications of Mourinho’s personal
portfolio of sponsorship deals before finalising his package with United.
Mourinho’s imminent arrival at United has been welcomed by some of Machester United players.
"Should Mourinho join Manchester United, I believe everyone would love
to be coached by Mourinho, Bastian said of the special one, “ it will be something
special." he concluded.