Jose Mourinho has been appointed coach of Inter for the next three years, the Italian champions said yesterday.

Former Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho succeeds Roberto Mancini, whose dismissal was confirmed on Thursday, 11 days after he led the side to their third consecutive Serie A title.

"FC Internazionale announce the arrival of Jose Mourinho," read a statement on the club's website yesterday.

"The Portuguese coach has signed a three-year contract."

The statement gave no financial details of the deal. La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported that the coach would earn nine million euros a season. The club said the Portuguese would be presented at a news conference this morning.

Mourinho had been out of work since September, when he left Chelsea after his relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich broke down.

He is considered by many the best in the business after leading the London club to the Premier League title in 2005 and 2006 and inspiring Porto to UEFA Cup and Champions League glory in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Chelsea midfielders Frank Lampard and Michael Essien and Barcelona duo Deco and Samuel Eto'o are among the transfer targets Mourinho wants his new club to aim for, according to media reports.

The charismatic 45-year-old has long been linked with the Inter hot seat.

The speculation intensified after Inter's defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 in March, when Mancini put his position in doubt by saying he would quit at the end of the season only to change his mind the following day.

Yesterday's statement said Mourinho would bring assistants Rui Farias, Silvino and Andrei Villas Boas, all formerly of Chelsea, with him and that former Italy and Inter defender Giuseppe Baresi, the head of the Italian club's academy, would be his deputy.

The club also thanked Mancini belatedly for his work over the last four years, something Thursday's statement announcing his dismissal failed to do.