Jose Mourinho believes managing Manchester United is the pinnacle of his career despite the Portuguese having coached the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid in the past.

Mourinho was appointed as United's new manager in late May, five months after he left Chelsea for the second time in his career.

The 53-year-old has also managed the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto but today revealed he feels the United job represents the "top" of his successful career to date.

"I have been in some of the biggest clubs in the world," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"This is like the top of my career, but it comes in the early stage of my career because as a manager I am really young, and I think I have the best years of my career to come up.

"I was not joking [when I say 15 more years] – 53 plus 15 is 68, so I would say 14, 15, 16 more years, but I don't see myself going home before 70."

Mourinho is currently preparing to take charge of his first Premier League game in front of the United fans at Old Trafford when the Red Devils host Southampton tonight.

And when asked about his relationship with the United fans, Mourinho said: "I've managed many, many times against Manchester United. I've enjoyed it. Even as an opponent I could create a good relationship with the fans, I never had problems, and I have not always behaved the best way.

Jose Mourinho lands at Manchester United 5 show all Jose Mourinho lands at Manchester United 1/5 Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United poses at Old Trafford after being officially unveiled as Manchester United manager at Old Trafford John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images 2/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho arrives for a photocall at Old Trafford Tim Goode/PA 3/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho during a photocall at Old Trafford, Manchester Tim Goode/PA 4/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho arrive for a photocall at Old Trafford, Manchester Tim Goode/PA 5/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho poses ahead of the press conference Andrew Yates/Reuters 1/5 Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United poses at Old Trafford after being officially unveiled as Manchester United manager at Old Trafford John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images 2/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho arrives for a photocall at Old Trafford Tim Goode/PA 3/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho during a photocall at Old Trafford, Manchester Tim Goode/PA 4/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho arrive for a photocall at Old Trafford, Manchester Tim Goode/PA 5/5 New Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho poses ahead of the press conference Andrew Yates/Reuters

"The first time I was running to celebrate a goal at touchline. Maybe it is Sir Alex Ferguson's doing, with the relationship we had, I always tried to be nice and have a relationship with the fans at Old Trafford.

"This time I go and for the first time I can do what I never did, which is ask for their support. I always play against them, and this time they are on my side.

"As a fan you can go to the stadium and watch the game, or you can go and play, and what I ask them to do is go to Old Trafford and play."