• Thursday, April 18, 2024
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Official: Jose Mourinho is the new Tottenham manager

Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has been appointed Tottenham manager, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino who was sacked on Tuesday.

Mourinho, former Chelsea and Manchester United boss has signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Negotiations between Spurs and Mourinho – who had been out of work since leaving Old Trafford in December – intensified over the last few days and concluded in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Mourinho said: “I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters. The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.”

His first game will be at the London Stadium on Saturday as Spurs travel to take on West Ham in the Premier League.

Chairman Daniel Levy said he was “reluctant” to sack Pochettino, but explained the decision had to be made in the “club’s best interests”.

“In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football,” Levy said on Wednesday.

“He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”

Pochettino left Tottenham with the club 14th in the Premier League and having won just five matches all season.

Mourinho still lives in London and won three Premier League titles and one FA Cup in two spells at Chelsea, while he won the Europa League and Carabao Cup with Manchester United.

He has also previously managed Portuguese side Porto – where he won the Champions League – Italian club Inter Milan, with whom he claimed a league, cup and Champions League Treble, and Spanish team Real Madrid, who he led to the La Liga title.

Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked as Manchester United manager in December 2018.

He takes over a Spurs side that are 14th in the Premier League and without a win in their last five games.

Mourinho has turned down a number of job opportunities, including in China, Spain and Portugal, since leaving Old Trafford.