The iconic Manchester United defender, Ferdinand hailed the newly appointed manager a "true winner."
Former Manchester United defender RioSoccer Ferdinand has welcomed Friday's appointment of "true winner" Jose Mourinho as manager at Old Trafford, saying the Portuguese's latest challenge will be his most exciting.
The 53-year-old replaces Louis van Gaal who was sacked on Monday, two days after his side won the FA Cup, United's first trophy in three years. Ferdinand, who won six Premier League trophies with the club, said Mourinho would have to teach the team how to start winning again after the club missed out on Champions League football for the second time in three years.
"This is Jose Mourinho's most exciting and most challenging job yet," the former England centre half wrote on his Facebook page. "The first thing he needs to do is instil a 'winning mentality' back into the club. One thing I can tell Manchester United fans is that they have got themselves a true winner in all aspects. His CV shows success." Ferdinand said Mourinho would be motivated by the desire to prove his critics wrong after a disappointing title defence with Chelsea that led to him being sacked in December. "After his recent unsuccessful time at Chelsea in the final year, I can assure you this winner is now a wounded animal which makes him such a mouth-watering appointment," added the former Leeds United, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers defender. "He will be desperate to silence the media who have been writing and saying negative things about him and will be as focused as ever."
Destined to manage United?
"To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game," Mourinho said in a club statement. "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." Mourinho seemed destined to manage United ever since his Porto side eliminated Ferguson's men from the 2004 Champions League. Porto went on to win the title.
He thought his time had come when Ferguson retired in 2013, but concerns over his volatile personality prompted United to turn to the more reserved Moyes instead. But with that move proving a disaster and Van Gaal faring little better, United's powerbrokers have decided to take a chance on Mourinho, despite his turbulent reputation. Media reports said Mourinho will earn up to USD 21 million a year.
Former Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, Everton defender John Stones, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann are reportedly among the names on his wanted list.
But Mourinho might also have to deal with scepticism from the squad at Old Trafford after a report that some senior players have already expressed concern the tactically defensive coach might prove too similar to Van Gaal, whose tactics frustrated United fans.
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 "Rio Ferdinand and Jose Mourinho")
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