REAL MADRID COACH Jose Mourinho has spoken of his delight at signing a contract which will keep him at the club until 2016.
It was reported in January the Portuguese coach was set for a return to England, but on Tuesday it was announced he had agreed a two-year extension to his existing deal that was set to run out in 2014.
“I feel happy. If I was not, I would not have signed this agreement,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.
“I would like to think that it is not just me that is happy but also Real Madrid – the president (Florentino Perez),(executive) Jose Angel Sanchez and directors, who have trusted me and think I’m the ideal coach for this project we have until 2016.
“I have been talking with the players in recent months, analysing the situation, and my strong sense is that the squad in general is also happy with this decision.
“My wife and my children, who are central to my professional decisions, are comfortable with this choice. I think this is the perfect challenge for me for my next four years because it is difficult and that gets more out of you.
“At this stage in my career I need big challenges to force me to continue to get better.”
Mourinho, who has never spent more than three seasons at one club, explained there were a number of factors in his decision to commit himself to Madrid for a maximum of another four years.
“Firstly, the president’s desire to have what is not common in football today, to be able to think long term,” the two-time Champions League winner said.
“There was also the confidence I have always shown in my work. But I’ve always said it was very important to me to have the feeling that the fans, the team and club are happy and confident in my work.
“And I started to learn more about this club with all its very great qualities and I am delighted to continue and plan ahead.
“We obviously know we have to think about tomorrow and not speak too much of the long term. And that’s what we tried to do in the past two years. You think about the future. But in a club of this size you have to get results, you have to win and that’s what we tried to do in these two years together and what we will try to continue doing over the next four,” he added.
