Chelsea break World record to sign New Manager

Chelsea have paid Porto €15 million (£13.3 million) to make Andre Villas-Boas their new manager and the most expensive coaching appointment in football history.

History repeating: Andre Villas-Boas, the new Chelsea manager, has made the move from Porto just as Jose Mourinho did in 2004

At 33, Villas-Boas is also poised to become the youngest Premier League manager and the seventh incumbent at Stamford Bridge since Roman Abramovich bought the club eight years ago.

A formal announcement is expected from Chelsea today, but it is understood that personal terms – an annual wage of £5 million and an initial two-year contract, with the option of a third season – have already been verbally agreed.

“We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated,” said a Chelsea statement.

“We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future.”

Villas-Boas has the challenge of managing a dressing room that is full of imposing personalities, but he worked successfully with the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba at Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho, between 2004 and 2007.