Chelsea name Mourinho as coach
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| | FACT BOX | Surname: Mourinho Felix
First names: Jose Mario Santos
Date of birth: 26 January 1963
Place of birth: Setubal (Portugal)
Nationality: Portuguese
Clubs
Assistant to Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Barcelona from 1992 to 1997, assistant to Louis van Gaal at Barcelona 1997-2000, Benfica coach (2000), Uniao Leira coach (2001), Porto coach (January 2002-2004), Chelsea manager (2004)
Honors
Portuguese Champions: 2003, 2004
Portuguese Cup winners: 2003
UEFA Cup winners: 2003
Champions League winners: 2004
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Chelsea officially named Jose Mourinho as new manager on Wednesday, giving him a three-year contract as he takes over from Claudio Ranieri.
The 41-year-old Portuguese led FC Porto to the Champions League title last month, a year after his team lifted the UEFA Cup.
Porto also won their domestic league in his first full season, 2002-03, and retained it this year.
Although his salary was not disclosed, reports suggest it could reach 5 million pounds (US$9 million) a year, making him the game's highest paid coach.
During Ranieri's tenure, Chelsea finished sixth, sixth, fourth and second, reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time and were 11 points behind unbeaten Arsenal this season.
It was Chelsea's best league finish in 55 years but despite the success, Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich and chief executive Peter Kenyon rated the season a failure.
Abramovich has spent 120 million pounds ($220 million) on about a dozen players since taking over as owner last summer.
Mourinho never played soccer professionally, but is well known in England.
His first high-profile job came when he served as a translator under English manager Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon in 1992.
Mourinho soon became involved in training, and he joined Robson at Porto a year later. Stints as an assistant at Barcelona -- under Robson and Dutchman Louis van Gaal -- followed.
Mourinho took over at Benfica in 2000 but only lasted nine games because of a dispute with management.
He is regarded as a solid tactician and motivator, although detractors call him cold and arrogant -- accusations he makes little attempt to dispel.
Mourinho's father, Felix, is a former Portugal goalkeeper.
Fantastic challenge
Mourinho said: "Chelsea represent a fantastic challenge for me. It is a great club with a world-class squad of players," he said.
"The plans and ambitions for Chelsea excite me and I am sure they will do the same for the fans, whose incredible support I have already witnessed.
"The English Premiership is recognized as the best league in the world and I am really excited at the prospect of competing week in, week out at the highest level in England as well as in Europe."
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "The appointment of Jose Mourinho is all about building on the foundations which we have already established at Chelsea.
"He represents the new generation of football coaches and we are convinced he can take us to the next level, both in England in Europe.
"His record of sustained success makes him perfect for what we want to achieve at Chelsea."
And newspaper reports said he had already told the English Premiership club the players he wants.
Mourinho was reported to have told Chelsea he fancied his Porto full-back Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Costinha, Deportivo La Coruna center-back Jorge Andrade, Real Betis winger Joaquin, Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes and Juventus' France striker David Trezeguet.
He was also thought to have singled out France captain Marcel Desailly, Claude Makelele, Juan Sebastian Veron, Emmanuel Petit, Jesper Gronkjaer, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mario Stanic, Mario Melchiot, Celestine Babayaro and Winston Bogarde as surplus to requirements.
Ranieri's representatives are still in discussions with Chelsea concerning the settlement of the remainder of his contract.
According to reports, directors from Valencia, Ranieri's former club, have already flown to London to hold talks with the sacked Chelsea boss about the vacancy at the Mestalla Stadium following Rafael Benitez's decision to leave.
Benitez is poised to take over as manager at Liverpool, who sacked Gerard Houllier last week.
