"Jose has penned a one-year contract with the club," Ittihad football director Hamad Al-Sanei said.

The renowned Portuguese tactician left Cairo giants Ahli in the summer of 2009 after guiding them to a host of local and continental titles.

He earned a cult status among the Red Devils' fans before taking charge of Angola to lead them at January's African Cup of Nations on home soil.

Angola had a less than impressive campaign, bowing out at the quarter finals after losing to eventual runners up Ghana.