Manchester United appoint ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as manager

Manchester United have appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager, according to Sky Sports.

The Premier League outfit; who finished fifth in the English top-flight last season and subsequently missed out on Champions League football later this year, have opted for the ex-Chelsea boss to succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, after sacking the Dutchman shortly after his FA Cup final triumph last weekend.

The 53-year-old, who has also enjoyed managerial stints at the likes of FC Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, has been in discussions with the Red Devils for several days.

However image rights negotiations reportedly held up United’s most recent managerial appointment, their third in three years since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with former Everton boss David Moyes also receiving the chop back in 2014.

It was understood that Premier League rivals Chelsea still owned his name as a trademark and could of demanded a six-figure sum from the Red Devils before any deal could be wrapped up.

Mourinho was sacked as Blues boss back in December 2015 after the defending league champions suffered a catastrophic start to their title defence during the 2015/16 campaign.