Mourinho vows to bring back the glory years as new boss urges United to forget dark days of Moyes and Van Gaal

Jose Mourinho has told Manchester United to forget three years of hurt and trust him to bring back the glory days to Old Trafford.

United officially announced Mourinho’s appointment on Friday on a three-year contract worth £45miilion, with the option to stay on until at least 2020, as he replaced the sacked Louis van Gaal.

The 53-year-old Portuguese coach immediately promised to erase the memory of Van Gaal, his old mentor at Barcelona, and David Moyes, who both struggled to follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United finally confirmed Jose Mourinho as their new manager on Friday morning

The incoming manager gave his first interview as the United boss with the club's in-house TV channel

Mourinho is hoping to add to his three Premier League titles after moving to take the Old Trafford hotseat

Mourinho is hoping to add to his three Premier League titles after moving to take the Old Trafford hotseat

The former Chelsea manager called United a 'giant club' and looked to erase memories of recent years

The former Chelsea manager called United a 'giant club' and looked to erase memories of recent years

Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup but silverware has otherwise been lacking at Old Trafford since 2013

Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup but silverware has otherwise been lacking at Old Trafford since 2013

Before Van Gaal, David Moyes won the Community Shield but his failures saw him sacked within months

Before Van Gaal, David Moyes won the Community Shield but his failures saw him sacked within months

Jose Mourinho poses with a Manchester United shirt and will look to revitalise the club

Mourinho posed with a United shirt as he was announced as Van Gaal's successor on Friday morning

Mourinho could be seen holding a United shirt branded with 'Mourinho - 1' on the back in a Vine clip

Mourinho could be seen holding a United shirt branded with 'Mourinho - 1' on the back in a Vine clip

UNITED PRE- AND POST-SIR ALEX FERGUSON'S RETIREMENT 

2010-11: Won the Premier League


2011-12: Finished second

2012-13: Won the Premier League

 

2013: Sir Alex Ferguson retired

 

2013-14: Finished seventh

2015-16: Finished fourth

2017-18: Finished fifth, won the FA Cup

Van Gaal won the FA Cup in his last game in charge but United have fallen dramatically since Ferguson’s retirement, failing to qualify for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons.

‘We can look at our club now in two perspectives,’ said Mourinho. ‘One perspective is the past three years, and another perspective is the club’s history. I prefer to forget the last three years.

‘I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now, and I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win. I think what the players need to listen to is: “I want to win”.

‘And more than that, I need the supporters and the players to feel that I think we can really (win), it’s not just to say.

‘I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don’t have. I will give absolutely everything to try to go in the direction we all want.’

Mourinho wants to restore United to the silverware-heavy glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson's era

Mourinho was seen putting pen to paper on his contract in MUTV footage shown on Sky Sports News

Mourinho was seen putting pen to paper on his contract in MUTV footage shown on Sky Sports News

HOW SPORTSMAIL'S DOMINIC KING BROKE THE STORY FIRST

Jose Mourinho was finally confirmed as Manchester United manager on Friday - 112 days after Sportsmail readers were first informed. 

Dominic King broke the story on MailOnline on February 5 and followed it up in the Daily Mail of February 6 (right).

King wrote: ‘Jose Mourinho is on the brink of getting the job of his dreams by becoming Manchester United manager this summer. In a dramatic twist for Manchester football, it means he would resume his toxic rivalry with Pep Guardiola.’

His story rocked the world of football — especially then United boss Louis van Gaal — and our rivals have been playing catch-up ever since. Sportsmail is currently the Sports Journalists’ Association sports newspaper of the year for a third year in succession and was voted Sports Team of the Year at the Press Awards.

A two-time Champions League winner with FC Porto and Inter Milan, Mourinho takes over a team in the Europa League next season after Van Gaal’s side finished fifth.

The former Real Madrid coach was sacked by Chelsea in December, but believes he is joining United at an ideal point in his career as he prepares to start work in July.

‘I feel great,’ he added. ‘I think I’m in the right moment of my career because Manchester United is one of these clubs you need to be prepared for because it’s a giant club.

‘Giant clubs must be for the best managers. I think I am ready for it so I could say I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m honoured, I’m everything. But the reality is that what I love is to work and I cannot wait for July 7 to go on the pitch.’

Mourinho came to prominence in England when he sprinted down the touchline at Old Trafford after Porto scored a decisive late goal against United in 2004.

Mourinho waves to photographers outside his London home as the world reacts to his appointment on Friday

Mourinho waves to photographers outside his London home as the world reacts to his appointment on Friday

Mourinho will have £200million to spend this summer as he looks to build a title-challenging squad

Mourinho will have £200million to spend this summer as he looks to build a title-challenging squad

BORN WINNER: JOSE MOURINHO'S 13 YEARS OF TROPHY WINS

Porto (2002-2004) 

Win percentage: 71.65

Trophies: Primeira Liga (2003, 2004); Portuguese Cup (2003); UEFA Cup (2003); Champions League (2004).

Chelsea (2004-2007) 

Win percentage: 67.03

Trophies: Premier League (2005, 2006); League Cup (2005, 2007); FA Cup (2007).

Inter Milan (2008-2010) 

Win percentage: 62.04

Trophies: Serie A (2009, 2010); Italian Cup (2010); Champions League (2010)

Real Madrid (2010-2013)

Win percentage: 71.91

Trophies: Primera Division (2012); Copa del Rey (2011).

Chelsea (second spell: 2013-2015)

Win percentage: 58.82

Trophies: Premier League (2015); League Cup (2015).

‘I play so many times at Old Trafford and (there) was empathy, no problems,’ he said. ‘I was pushed by that feeling to say things sometimes that my clubs were not happy with. When I won at Old Trafford with Real Madrid, I said that the best team lost and not many people were happy at Real Madrid.’

Mourinho released a statement on Friday morning to confirm his appointment, saying: ‘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.’

United’s 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. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.’

Mourinho is set to bring trusted assistants Rui Faria and Silvino Louro to Old Trafford, but it is unclear whether Ryan Giggs will stay at the club to serve under a third manager in three years.

Giggs is due to return from a holiday in Dubai early next week and is expected to hold talks with Mourinho and Woodward over the offer of a new role overseeing the coordination between the first-team and youth academy.

Mourinho will start work immediately as he looks to secure the transfer targets he has identified

Mourinho will start work immediately as he looks to secure the transfer targets he has identified

Mourinho delighted one fan outside his home by providing the signature on a United home shirt

Mourinho delighted one fan outside his home by providing the signature on a United home shirt

The new Manchester United manager posted this image of his contract with the club on Instagram

The new Manchester United manager posted this image of his contract with the club on Instagram

MOURINHO'S TOP TRANSFER TARGETS

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC 

Current club: Free agent

The 34-year-old would add stardust and could help nurture young strikers Anthony Martial and England’s Marcus Rashford. 

JOHN STONES 

Current club: Everton Fee: £40m

He nearly joined Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2015 and Jose could face a fight for Stones with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.  

KOSTAS MANOLAS 

Current club: Roma Fee: £30m

With the defence needing to be bolstered, the 24- year-old Greece international could be a vital cog.  

JOAO MARIO 

Current club: Sporting Lisbon Fee: £35m 

The powerful 23-year-old could revitalise United’s midfield. 

The 42-year-old wants to know if he will have a significant part to play, having felt isolated under Moyes and Van Gaal. He was also unhappy that Woodward did not keep him in the picture over developments leading to Mourinho’s appointment.

Giggs is considering ending his 29-year career at United to pursue a managerial job in the Premier League or Championship. It’s understood he will make a final decision next week.

Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has urged Mourinho to find a role for Giggs.

‘In my personal experience it’s good when I find an assistant who is from the club,’ said Ancelotti.

‘It was (Ray) Wilkins at Chelsea, (Claude) Makelele in France (at Paris Saint-Germain), it was (Zinedine) Zidane at Madrid. I think it is important to have a figure who knows the club.’

Mourinho is planning a summer full of transfer activity with the former Chelsea manager being handed £200million to spend in his bid to create a squad able to challenge for the title. 

That spree could include moves for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, John Stones and Nemanja Matic. 

But after the initial excitement of the unveiling his main focus is on a return to the pitch - something he has missed since his Stamford Bridge sacking in December.

United regroup following the summer break on July 7 before Mourinho's first game against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22. 

JOSE MOURINHO'S MUTV INTERVIEW IN FULL 

QUESTION: Jose, congratulations, the new Manchester United manager. How do you feel?

'I feel great, I think I’m in the right moment of my career because Manchester United is one of these clubs you need to be prepared for because it’s a giant club.

'Giant clubs must be for the best managers. I think I am ready for it so I could say I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m honoured, I’m everything, but the reality is that what I love is to work and I cannot wait for July 7 to go on the pitch.'

QUESTION: You've won trophies everywhere, what are your ambitions for Manchester United?

'We can look at our club now in two perspectives. One perspective is the past three years, and another prospective is the club's history. I prefer to forget the last three years.

'I prefer to focus on the giant club I have in my hands now and I think what the fans are expecting me to say is that I want to win. I think what the players need to listen to is I want to win.

'And more than that I need the supporters and the players to feel that I say that, not just for the sake of saying it, but because I think we really can

'I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don't have, so I will give absolutely everything to try to go in the direction we all want.'

QUESTION: You seem to have had a good rapport with Manchester United fans when you've come back with Inter Milan, Real Madrid, with Chelsea, with charity games. What is your message to United fans?

'I know what they can give me I think also they know what I can give them. Obviously the most important thing is the players and the relationship with them.

'It’s very important and curious that I play so many times against Man United and I play so many times at Old Trafford with other clubs and was empathy, no problems and in fact I was pushed by that feeling to say things sometimes that my clubs were not happy with.

'I remember for example when I won at Old Trafford with Real Madrid, I said that the best team lost and not many people were happy at Real Madrid.'

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