So that's that. After all has been said and done, Jose Mourinho is the new manager of Manchester United.
It wasn't exactly breaking news in the traditional sense but the club have finally confirmed it and we can start debating in earnest about Mourinho's suitability for the Old Trafford hotseat.
After the news first broke last night a statement was released by the club today confirming the news.
José Mourinho will take over as manager of Manchester United from the 2016/17 season, signing a three-year contract with an option to stay at the club until at least 2020.
José, 53, has managed at the top level of European football for over a decade and in that time has won league titles and cups in four countries (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain), as well as winning the UEFA Champions League twice – in 2004 with FC Porto and in 2010 with Inter Milan.
Speaking about the appointment, Ed Woodward was certainly not holding back on the hyperbole.
José is quite simply the best manager in the game today. He has won trophies and inspired players in countries across Europe and, of course, he knows the Premier League very well, having won three titles here.
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to Manchester United. His track record of success is ideal to take the club forward.
And as for Jose himself, he's hasn't exactly been hiding his delight and there's already quite a few pointing to that 'mystique and a romance' utterance and suggesting it may be something of a dig at Chelsea.
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.
I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it has hosted some important memories for me in my career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans. I’m looking forward to being their manager and enjoying their magnificent support in the coming years.
That suggestion of a dig at his former employers would appear to be a bit unlikely considering that you'd also have to include Real Madrid in there but there's no doubting that Jose has got the job that he wants and, as if it wasn't already, the Premier League is going to be a very interesting place next season.
