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Jose Morais appointed new Barnsley head coach

Barnsley have appointed Jose Morais
Image: Barnsley have appointed Jose Morais

Barnsley have appointed Jose Morais as their new head coach on an 18-month-contract.

The 52-year-old was part of Jose Mourinho's coaching staff at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and during his second spell at Chelsea.

Morais, who has had stints in charge at Al-Shabab, Antalyaspor and AEK Athens, replaces Paul Heckingbottom, who left to join Leeds last week.

Chelsea's assistant first-team coach Jose Morais (L) exits the team bus as he arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Stoke City
Image: Barnsley have appointed Jose Morais

The Portuguese will take training on Friday morning ahead of their Sky Bet Championship clash with Burton Albion at Oakwell on Tuesday.

Barnsley also spoke to St Mirren boss Jack Ross about the vacancy but chief executive Gauthier Ganaye said Morais was the club's first choice candidate.

"We're really, really pleased to have secured the club's number one target from the start of the process," Ganaye told Barnsley's club website.

Jack Ross has been at St Mirren for nearly two years
Image: Barnsley also spoke to St Mirren boss Jack Ross

"We invited Jose to the Sheffield Wednesday match and began talks immediately with him and his representatives. To be fully transparent, we ran a fair and full interview process. We spoke to a lot of head coaches who were both in and out of employment.

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"The interviewed candidates were all strong contenders, but the unanimous decision was to appoint Jose who instilled the full board with the belief that he is the right man to lead us up the table, whilst bringing excitement back to the club with an attacking style and goals for the fans to enjoy."

Morais worked with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea
Image: Morais worked with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

He added: "We now look ahead to a vital part of the season under Jose's leadership. He is excited about taking training straight away and installing his own vision on the squad, which in turn has excited the club and its staff about the remainder of the campaign.

"We fully believe this is the right appointment at the right time."

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