Manchester United on Friday confirmed Jose Mourinho as the club's new manager, replacing Louis van Gaal who was sacked on Monday. Mourinho, who was sacked as Chelsea manager only in December last year, will take over at Old Trafford from the 2016-'17 season and has signed a three-year contract with an option to stay at the club until at least 2020, according to a statement.

The announcement followed months of speculation that the 20-time English champions were after the Portuguese's services, following a slump in form under Van Gaal. Reports linking Mourinho to Old Trafford first surfaced right after the Portuguese was sacked by Chelsea just seven months after winning the Premier League title. The 53-year-old Mourinho has previously also managed Spanish giants Real Madrid and Italian heavyweights Inter Milan.

Mourinho said in a statement, "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."