Jose Mourinho has returned to Premier League management - and will now tread the touchline he famously slid down in 2003.
The former Chelsea boss was confirmed as Louis Van Gaal's replacement at Old Trafford today - after issues surrounding image rights had delayed his appointment.
Then a little-known Portuguese tactician, Mourinho shot to fame for a full-length charge across Old Trafford in 2003/04 - his Porto side knocking Manchester United out of the Champions League on their way to claiming European football's top prize.
25 - Jose Mourinho becomes the 25th manager of Manchester United #MUFC #Mourinho #MourinhoToUnited #MourinhoisRed pic.twitter.com/A73nlKAWUV
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 27, 2016
The rest as they say is history: Mourinho now a multiple league winner in three different countries, a cup winner in four, as well as being a two-time Champions League winner (Mourinho also tasting success with Inter in 2009/10).
The 53-year-old's three Premier League titles place him level with Arsene Wenger in terms of success in the English top flight, second only to Sir Alex Ferguson, the last man to bring the title to Old Trafford back in 2012/13.
Speaking to MUTV, Mourinho spoke about the 'honour' of taking the reins at Old Trafford:
"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."
After beginning his career with a club decked in red (Benfica), it has been blue all the way for Mourinho with Porto, Chelsea and Inter. However, his new partnership with the Red Devils promises to be an interesting one - particularly given the fact that Pep Guardiola is newly installed across town at Manchester City.
2 - In Mourinho & Guardiola the Premier League will have two 'two time' Champions League winning managers in 2016/17. #Mourinho #BPL
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 27, 2016
Mourinho is only the third man to manage both Manchester United and Chelsea - the previous two bosses to achieve this feat, Dave Sexton and Tommy Docherty, enjoying long stays in charge of each club.
Most games in charge of #MUFC & #CFC
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 27, 2016
569 - Sexton (201 & 368)
518 - Docherty (227 & 291)
321 - Mourinho (0 & 321)#Mourinho
It's official! #WelcomeJose pic.twitter.com/6QK3ZbVKae
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 27, 2016
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NameJosé Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix Born/Age1963-01-26(61 -yrs-old) Nationality Portugal Job RoleManager | |
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