Queens Park Rangers are hoping that they have found the new José Mourinho after Paulo Sousa agreed to become the club’s first-team coach. Sousa, who had been working as the Portugal assistant head coach, was recommended to QPR by Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager. The Brazilian worked with Sousa when he was in charge of Portugal and had no hesitation in recommending the 38-year-old former Juventus and Inter Milan midfield player when he was asked for his opinion.

Sousa spoke to Scolari before deciding to move to London after the Chelsea manager told him that QPR’s offer was too good to turn down. Sousa has signed a 2½-year contract worth about £20,000 a week and will be in charge of the first team for Saturday’s match away to Watford.

“He is going to be the new José Mourinho with all his flair, charm and talent,” a source at the Coca-Cola Championship club said. “Paulo got the job because he wanted it that little bit more than the rest and, unlike the others, he is up and coming. Scolari spoke warmly about his potential, and with Sousa’s connections it could be a very exciting time for the club.”

Flavio Briatore, the QPR chairman, had wanted to give the job to Gareth Ainsworth after the player-coach impressed his employers during his six games as caretaker manager, but the 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley on Saturday convinced the Italian that he needed someone with more experience. Bernie Ecclestone, the co-owner, Amit Bhatia, the vice-chairman who represents Lakshmi Mittal’s 20 per cent stake in the club, and Gianni Paladini, the sporting director, convinced Briatore that appointing Ainsworth on a permanent basis would be too big a gamble if the club were serious about being promoted to the Barclays Premier League at the end of the season.

Roberto Mancini, the former Inter coach, who is learning English in London, turned down the job because he does not want to work in the Championship. His rejection meant that QPR had to choose between Sousa and Roberto Donadoni, the former Italy coach, and the Portuguese got the job after Scolari’s recommendation.

“I believe in playing positive attacking football and I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead,” Sousa said after becoming the club’s eighth manager in two years. “I always wanted to work for a big club and I’m very excited about working for QPR.”

Sousa has been given assurances by Briatore that he will have money to spend when the transfer window opens in January and he has also been told that he is in sole charge of first-team affairs. Briatore is a hands-on chairman and the departure last month of Iain Dowie was caused by his refusal to pick the players that the Italian wanted in the team. Briatore was said to have had a big say in team selection when Ainsworth, who has agreed to stay as player-coach, was in charge. Several British managers are said to have decided not to apply for the job because they were concerned that the chairman would interfere with their work.

“Paulo has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of a new generation of coaches,” Briatore said. “He has worked with some of the best players in the world and we are very excited about having him here.”

Sousa is unlikely to be the only new arrival at Loftus Road this week, with the club set to announce the signing of Heidar Helguson on loan from Bolton Wanderers until January. The Iceland forward, who scored the only goal in a friendly international against Malta last night, failed a medical in West London last week, but the deal was resurrected after QPR agreed to pay half his £16,000-a-week wages and Bolton agreed to take him back if he was injured during his loan spell.