Portuguese manager Mourinho to join Roma

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Portuguese Jose Mourinho on Tuesday agreed to a three-year contract to manage Italian Serie A football club, Roma.

The team said that Mourinho, 58, will start duties ahead of the 2021-22 season and his contract will expire in June 2024.

Roma said on Twitter that manager Paulo Fonseca will leave Giallorossi, the Yellow and Reds, at the end of the season.

"We are thrilled and delighted to welcome Jose Mourinho into the AS Roma family," said club's president Dan Friedkin and vice-president Ryan Friedkin. "A great champion who has won trophies at every level, Jose will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project."

Mourinho thanked the Friedkin family for picking him to manage the club.

"After meetings with the ownership and [Roma CEO] 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 years," said Mourinho.

England's Tottenham Hotspur fired Mourinho on April 19 without citing a reason for his dismissal.

The Portuguese manager will return to Italy where he managed Inter Milan in 2008-2010.

Mourinho bagged two Italian Serie A titles with Inter in 2009 and 2010, as well as the 2010 UEFA Champions League title.

He also managed Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Mourinho guided Portugal's Porto to a sensational victory in the finals of the 2003 UEFA Cup and the 2004 Champions League.

The UEFA Cup was rebranded the UEFA Europa League in the 2009-10 season.

Mourinho claimed three English Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005, 2006 and 2015.

He led Real Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title in 2012 and also won the 2017 Europa League trophy while managing Manchester United in England.