David O'Leary on Radio 5 Live: "I admire George Graham, but i'm my own man"

He was confirmed in the post after the club's goalless draw with Chelsea at Elland Road on Sunday.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, O'Leary said he felt "lucky and proud" and was glad to be starting his managerial career "at the top".

"My teams will play not sexy football, but nice aggressive football."

BBC Football Correspondent Mike Ingham reports

He refused to be drawn on possible new signings and would only confirm that Leeds is already looking at two new players.

"They're footballers. That's all I'm saying," he said.

O'Leary had been expected to sleep on a final decision until Monday.

But he clearly decided that the money on offer - both to him personally and in his transfer kitty - was enough for him to sign on the dotted line without further consideration.

The announcement ends a six-week saga which started six weeks ago when Spurs first asked Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale for permission to talk to George Graham about their managerial vacancy.

O'Leary has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal to become the first Irishman to manage the club.

Transfer assurances

O'Leary's salary is expected to be in the region of £600,000 per year - a figure which makes him one of the best-paid bosses in the Premiership, despite his complete lack of experience.

But it is not the cash on offer personally to Graham's former assistant that appears to have been the stumbling block in these negotiations.

Rather it was the amount that he would be given to spend in the transfer market.

He said: "I had to be satisfied with promises about money for new players and I've got the guarantees I was looking for."

It is thought there will be up to £12m for O'Leary to spend on the three players he has already said the squad needs.

He also warned people to expect a change from Graham's two year stay in West Yorkshire.

"I have learned a lot under George, but I shall be my own man and produce a team playing my kind of football.

"What I am looking for in the short term is for us to finish fifth in the league again as we did last season, so guaranteeing us a place in Europe, and reach a cup final.

"If we manage to do that then I shall be totally satisfied."

The club has also confirmed that his assistant will be reserve team coach and former United boss Eddie Gray.

Ridsdale: Opened champagne after busy six weeks

A clearly relieved Ridsdale said: "I am delighted David has agreed to become manager.

"It has all been sorted out, and I am convinced David will be a very successful manager for Leeds United.

"Obviously when we got off the plane from our game against Rome, we targeted David as the man we wanted to be manager."

He said broad agreement with the Irishman's solicitor Michael Kennedy had been reached on Friday and that the Sunday evening meeting had been to go over "the finer points".

He added: "David has already shown with his decisions that he will be his own man and we have put his mind to rest about money being available for new transfers.

Relieved Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale

"There were no differences at all between us and I am hoping we will be able to exercise the cheque book this week.

"We want to demonstrate to everybody that we are going to back David to the hilt in the transfer market."

He said his new manager was hungry for success and had already told him the players he wanted.

"It shows that David has the same burning ambitions as I do, which can only be good for Leeds United.

"He learnt at the right hand of a man who also shared those same burning ambitions.

"What we have now got to do, and I'm convinced David will do this, is build on what George achieved in his short time here."

George Graham was targeted by Spurs six weeks ago

The announcement finally brings to an end a long running saga, which began when Spurs sacked Christian Gross.

They were reluctantly allowed to speak to Graham, but Leeds had no such luck with their number one choice, Martin O'Neill.

His club Leicester were not keen to lose their man and repeatedly refused permission for a meeting between the Ulsterman and Leeds.

O'Neill eventually decided to stay loyal rather than walk out of Filbert Street, a decision which forced Ridsdale to turn to O'Leary.