Italian side AS Roma has officially announced the signing of veteran sweat merchant Jose Mourinho as their new head coach.

A statement by the club on Tuesday stated:

“The club are delighted to announce an agreement has been reached with Jose Mourinho for him to become our new head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Mourinho has agreed a three-year contract with the Giallorossi that will run until 30 June 2024.

He will begin his new role ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.”

Club 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 club had earlier in the day confirmed that incumbent head coach Paulo Fonseca will leave at the end of the season.

“After meetings with the ownership, I immediately understood their ambitions for Roma. Together we want to build a winning project.

“The incredible passion of the fans convinced me to accept the job. I can’t wait to start next season. Daje Roma!” A club statement quoted Mourinho to have said.

The widely travelled coach was sacked as Tottenham Hotspur manager a fortnight ago following lukewarm results.

Mourinho returns to Italy where he once found success with Inter Milan when he led the Nerrazuris to the Scudetto in 2010.

Since his early successes as a football manager with Porto, Chelsea and Inter, Mourinho has become sort of a journeyman, failing to reach the high-flying promises he set at the beginning of his career.

He would be expected to steer Roma, a club that has been on the fringes of the zenith of Italian football, to a force to reckon with. Mourinho is quite capable if his ego and readiness to tweak his style allow.