Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini pen new deals at Chelsea and Manchester City

Pellegrini was widely expected to depart the Etihad at the end of this season

Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini have penned new deals at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively on the eve of the new Premier League season. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini have penned new deals at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively on the eve of the new Premier League season. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea.

The Blues announced Mourinho’s new deal on the eve of the Barclays Premier League season opener with Swansea.

The Portuguese, who is in his second spell at Stamford Bridge, won the Capital One Cup and Premier League title last term for the Blues.

The new deal ties the self-proclaimed Special One to Chelsea until June 2019.

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The 52-year-old said on www.chelseafc.com: “If the club is happy, I am happy.

“I think this is a normal thing for me to sign a new contract. It is important we have this continuity and I hope we can enjoy more success in the future — for the fans, the players and the club.

“I said when I returned here two years ago that I have a special feeling for this club and nothing changed.

“It is the club closest to my heart and I am very happy to know I will be staying here for a long time.”

Pellegrini

Meanwhile, Manchester City have handed Manuel Pellegrini a new two-year contract on the eve of a season many expected to be the Chilean's last with the club.

Pellegrini, 61, was heading into the last year of his original three-year agreement, with speculation rife that City were planning to replace him with Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola next summer.

But in a show of support for the man who brought the Premier League title to the Etihad Stadium in 2014, City have extended his contract for a further 12 months while also giving new terms to his backroom staff.

The club will hope Pellegrini’s new contract ensures he can mastermind a title challenge this coming season without having to deal with constant rumours regarding his future.

The club’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, said: “We are delighted to reach this agreement with Manuel Pellegrini, who has already contributed so much to the development of Manchester City in his first two years with us, and we look forward to further progress in the seasons ahead.

“This agreement allows Manuel to focus on the challenge of guiding a team capable of both fighting for domestic titles and competing for European honours.”

Pellegrini himself said: “I am proud to manage Manchester City FC and am therefore very pleased to have agreed this contract.

“I have a very good quality group of players and a great team of people to work with on and off the field and at all levels of the club.

“I am focused on the coming season and confident that my team and I will respond to the constant support shown to us by everyone, including of course our fantastic fans.”