Jose Mourinho has been appointed coach of Roma as from next season in succession of Paulo Fonseca, the Serie A club said on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old Mourinho has won 25 major titles in his coaching career, highlighted by the UEFA Champions League success of 2004 with FC Porto.
He also won the treble in 2010 with Inter Milan, the other Italian club he has coached.
The Portuguese had to go two weeks ago at Tottenham Hotspur, and is now to turn the fortunes of Roma from 2021/2022 onwards on a three-year contract.
“We are thrilled and delighted to welcome Jose Mourinho into the AS Roma family,” Roma president Dan Friedkin and vice-president Ryan Friedkin said in a club statement.
“A great champion who has won trophies at every level, Jose will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project.
“The appointment of Jose is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
Mourinho, who has also coached Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, said: “Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision.
“After meetings with the owners and [general manager] Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma.
“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming year.”
Pinto said: “When Jose became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all time.”
Roma’s last Serie A title was in 2001 and their last Italian Cup in 2008.
They have had modest results recently, losing 6-2 in the Europa League semi-final first leg at Manchester United last week.
After four games without victory, they are ranked seventh in the Serie A with four games left.
That means the end for Fonseca who arrived in 2019 from Shakhtar Donetsk on a two-year contract with an option for another year until 2022.
“Paulo guided the team through many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a change of ownership, and did so with selfless integrity and great character,” Friedkin said in a statement.
Fonseca said: “Over these last two years we have experienced a number of highs and lows, but I have always given my all for this club and this city —— a city that has always been so welcoming.”
Fonseca won the Ukrainian league and Cup double in all three seasons at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Other clubs he has coached include Sporting Braga and FC Porto.(dpa/NAN)
