Mourinho relishing 'fantastic challenge'
Jose Mourinho today looked forward to a “fantastic challenge” after being unveiled as Chelsea’s new manager on a three-year contract.
The 40-year-old former Porto coach has replaced Claudio Ranieri who parted company with the Blues on Monday.
Mourinho was released by Porto yesterday, less than a week after leading the Portuguese champions to victory in the Champions League final against Monaco.
In the immediate aftermath of that 3-0 win in Gelsenkirchen, Mourinho revealed he had completed his mission with the club, paving the way for a switch to west London.
And he said today: “Chelsea represent a fantastic challenge for me. It is a great club with a world-class squad of players.
“The plans and ambitions for Chelsea excite me and I am sure they will do the same for the fans whose incredible support I have already witnessed.
“The English Premiership is recognised as the best league in the world and I am really excited at the prospect of competing week in, week out at the highest level in England as well as in Europe.”
In Mourinho’s first full season in charge at Porto in 2002/03, he won the treble of domestic league and cup, and UEFA Cup before claiming Europe’s top prize last week.
It is this pedigree which made him the preferred choice of Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who will demand Mourinho – who has been officially named as manager and first-team coach at the London club – brings similar success to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: “The appointment of Jose Mourinho is all about building on the foundations which we have already established at Chelsea.
“He represents the new generation of football coaches and we are convinced he can take us to the next level, both in England in Europe.
“His record of sustained success makes him perfect for what we want to achieve at Chelsea.”
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