Manchester United have sacked Jose Mourinho as manager after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s future has been the subject of intense scrutiny with the club’s worst start to a season in 28 years, languishing in 6th place on the English Premier League table after suffering a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
A statement said: “The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.
“A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”
United’s haul of 26 points after their first 17 Premier League games, is their worst tally in the top flight at this stage since 1990-91.
They are 11 points off the top four and closer to the relegation zone than the top of the table.
Manchester United has announced that Jose Mourinho has left the Club.
We would like to thank him for his work during his time at Manchester United and wish him success in the future. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 18, 2018
Mourinho’s sacking comes after a fall-out with £89m record signing Paul Pogba, who was an unused substitute for the defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
The 55 year old earlier this year signed a new two-year contract until 2020 but his troubled season began when he publicly criticised the United board for not backing him in the summer transfer market.
He had wanted at least one new centre-back but he did not get one, with the club signing £50m midfielder Fred, Porto youngster Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant as a backup goalkeeper.
Mourinho during his time at Old Trafford guided United to League Cup and Europa League titles as well as a second place finish last season and won 84 of his 144 matches in charge.
His dismissal continues his run of never completing four consecutive seasons in charge of a club.
Only once has he made it into a fourth campaign, but he left Chelsea on September 20, 2007 during his first spell at Stamford Bridge.