Just days after securing a fourth consecutive Series A title, Inter Milan announced the extension of manager Jose Mourinho’s contract until 30 June, 2012.
The deal was hailed by Inter as being «a sign of attachment and of winning spirit.» Mourinho, 46, has now won the league in three different countries, as well as the Champions League with Porto in 2004.
A statement on the club’s website said that the extension was «a response to the wish of the coach to continue the project started together a year ago, a wish welcomed with pleasure by the club.»
The Italian club will now be hoping that Mourinho can bring European success to the San Siro, who have not won the European cup since 1965. The club however have won the UEFA Cup three times, most recently in 1998.
In his first season in Italy, Mourinho won the ‘Supercoppa Italiana’ as well as the Serie A title, but the Italian giants were knocked out of the Champions League by defending champions Manchester United at the last 16 stage.
But if there was one manager who can bring European success to the San Siro in the coming seasons, most football fans would surely agree that the ‘special one’ is one of the best candidates for the job.
And Mourinho is convinced that there is not much distance between Inter and United. «We were very close to beating them,» he said.
«So if we improve we will be close, very close to the teams from the Premier League. But it is very difficult to get players.»
In the last few days, Mourinho has talked up the possibility of bringing Chelsea centre-back Ricardo Carvalho to Milan – a player who has worked under the Portuguese manager at both Porto and Chelsea.
The Inter boss said: «One player who would improve us at Inter is Ricardo Carvalho. He is not playing at Chelsea now and it looks like Alex is in front of him, so maybe it is better to let him come here and play.»