José Mourinho is to take over as manager of Roma next season, the Serie A club have announced. The Portuguese was sacked by Tottenham last month and is returning to Italy, where he had a successful tenure at Internazionale.
Roma had earlier said Paulo Fonseca would leave his role as head coach at the end of this season.
“The club are delighted to announce an agreement has been reached with José Mourinho for him to become our new head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season,” Roma said.
Mourinho was at Inter for two seasons from 2008-09, winning Serie A twice and the Champions League before departing for Real Madrid. Roma are seventh this season and unlikely to finish any higher. On Thursday they play at home against Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final, trailing 6-2.
Roma’s president, Dan Friedkin, and vice-president, Ryan Friedkin, said: “We are thrilled and delighted to welcome José Mourinho into the AS Roma family. A great champion who has won trophies at every level, José will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project.
“The appointment of José is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
Mourinho, who has also managed Porto, Chelsea and Manchester United, said: “After meetings with the ownership and [general manager] Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma.
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“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years. The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.”
Pinto said the club had been “blown away by José’s desire to win and his passion for the game”.
Mourinho returns to Serie A at a time when his former club Inter have just ended Juventus’s nine-year reign as champions.
