“Jose 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,” read a statement on the club’s official website.
The former Chelsea coach replaces former coach Louis van Gaal, who was sacked by the club earlier this week.
United management expressed their delight with the arrival of ‘the Special One’.
"Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today,” Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said. “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."
Mourinho himself said he cannot get wait to get started at Old Trafford.
"To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game,” he said. “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."
The 53-year-old's decorataed CV includes eight League titles in four different countries, along with two Champions League winners medals with Porto and Inter Milan.