Mourinho in it for the long haul
WANTS TO STAY AT UNITED FOR 15 YEARS Pressures of top level coaching could make it tough though.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho wants to stay at Old Trafford for the next 15 years but concedes the pressures of managing at the top level make a long tenure difficult.
Mourinho, who previously won league titles in Portugal, Spain, Italy and England, has never been in charge for more than three seasons at the previous clubs he managed.
“I am ready for this,” Mourinho, about to start his second season at Old Trafford, told ESPN. “I am ready for the next 15, I would say. Here? Yes, why not?
“I have to admit that it is very difficult because of the pressure around our jobs, everybody putting pressure on managers ... but in reality only one can win and every year it is getting more difficult.
“In my vision, my job is much more than what I do on the pitch and the results that my team gets at the weekend.”
He had previously expressed his intention to stay in charge at Stamford Bridge for more than 10 years during his second stint at Chelsea but was sacked just months after leading the side to the league title in 2015.
Mourinho said long-term stability could bring great benefits at the club as he hopes to emulate Alex Ferguson, who led United to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies during his 26 years in charge.
“This club, for so many years, was Sir Alex,” Mourinho added. “People got used to it; people understood the great consequences of that stability.
“After David (Moyes) and Mr (Louis) Van Gaal, I come to my second year and hopefully I can stay and give that stability that the club wants.”
Concerning his squad strength, United have added striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton and Benfica defender Victor Lindelof in the close season but Mourinho believes there is still room for more acquisitions in this transfer window.
United, who finished sixth in the league last season, host West Ham in their first game of the campaign on August 13.