Tottenham have appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager on a contract until the 2022-23 season 

Tottenham have appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager on a contract until the 2022-23 season. 

Mourinho, who has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United last year, said: ‘I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters. 

‘The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.’

There had been speculation that the Argentine had been distant and looking for a way out

POCHETTINO’S EXIT: HOW SPORTSMAIL BROKE THE STORY

On Monday night, Sportsmail duo Sami Mokbel and Adrian Kajumba exclusively revealed that the end was near for Mauricio Pochettino – CLICK HERE to read the article in full.

Spurs visit West Ham on Saturday but there was already a backdrop of uncertainty over the Argentine’s future, with sources claiming private discussions over an exit strategy had taken place. These were confirmed on Tuesday evening when he was sacked.

Tottenham sit 14th in the Premier League – 20 points adrift of leaders Liverpool – although they remain on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. 

The headline for Sportsmail’s exclusive story on Pochettino’s future on Monday.

Chairman Daniel Levy said: ‘In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football. 

‘He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. 

‘We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.’ 

It marks a dramatic shift in approach from Tottenham, with Mourinho’s record one that suggests he will not stay at a side as long as the five-year reign of his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino. 

Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham after five years on Tuesday night following an underwhelming start to the Premier League season. 

Sportsmail first reported on Monday that Pochettino was on the brink of losing his job but it has been a wild 48 hours at the London club.

Spurs are 14th in the Premier League table with 14 points and face London rivals West Ham at the weekend in Saturday’s early kick-off at the London stadium.

Mourinho returns to the Premier League with a point to prove after the wheels came off during his tenure at United. When he was sacked in December 2019 after a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield, Pochettino was the red-hot favourite to replace him at OId Trafford. 

But the start of the 2019-20 campaign has seen an alarming slide at Tottenham after reaching the Champions League final last season.

Upon announcing Pochettino’s departure, Spurs chairman Levy said: ‘We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.

‘Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.

‘It falls to the board to make the difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the club’s best interests.

‘Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history.’