Manchester United sack manager Jose Mourinho after two-and-a-half years in charge

Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho, and later in the day the Premier League giant appeared to accidentally announce his replacement on its website.

Update: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to replace Jose Mourinho as Manchester United’s interim manager after the club appeared to accidentally announce the appointment on their website.

Mourinho was axed on Tuesday after just two-and-half years in charge at Old Trafford and the troubled Premier League club are reportedly ready to bring back one of their old heroes to take his place on a temporary basis.

Solskjaer, currently in charge of Norway’s Molde, was widely reported to be United’s leading candidate for the interim role for the rest of the season while they search for a permanent appointment in the close-season.

There has been no official announcement from the club, however a video appeared on United’s official website celebrating Solskjaer and seeming to confirm his appointment.

A video of him scoring the winner for United in their 1999 Champions League final triumph against Bayern Munich was accompaniedwith the headline ‘The most famous night of Ole’s career’.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be taking over at his old club. Pic: AFP

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also appeared to confirm Solskjaer’s appointment, writing on Twitter: “Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils.”

United sacked Mourinho after their worst start to a season in almost 30 years.

The 55-year-old Portuguese’s last match in charge was the 3-1 defeat by Premier League league leaders Liverpool on Sunday which left them 19 points behind their opponents.

Mourinho’s sacking comes just two-and-a-half years into his tenure and three years and a day since Chelsea sacked him just months after he had guided them to the title.

Former player Michael Carrick, now a member of the coaching staff, is expected to take charge in an interim role but United said a caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the season.

Jose Mourinho’s reign as Manchester United manager is over. Picture: AFP

The club’s worst start in the league since 1990 means even Mourinho’s ambition of reaching the top four and a Champions League qualification spot is in danger.

Despite United reaching the Champions League knockout stages — they face an intimidating last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain — a mix of the results, dressing-room discord and criticism of the board’s transfer policy proved potent factors in the decision to dismiss him.

A United source told AFP that Mourinho had been supported in his efforts to sign players and described reports of player power at the club as being key to the sacking as being wide of the mark.

According to British media reports, United will have to pay £22.5 million ($39.5 million) — as the club are still in the ChampionsLeague — to sever the ties.

“Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect,” a club statement said.

Mourinho’s relationship with star midfielder Paul Pogba was frosty. Picture: AFP

“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.”

Carrick is favoured for the caretaker role having become part of the coaching staff this season.

Jose Mourinho after Manchester United’s loss to Liverpool at the weekend. Picture: AFP

In the longer term former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has been linked to the club and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino could also be a name in the frame.

Mourinho’s reign had started well enough with the League Cup and the Europa League trophies but neighbours Manchester City’s dominance over them in the league has hurt.

The wound went even deeper for Mourinho as City are managed by Pep Guardiola, who got the better of him when he managed Barcelona and Mourinho was at Real Madrid.

However, despite his protestations to the contrary the United board gave Mourinho plenty of money to compete.

Manchester United assistant Michael Carrick is expected to take over as caretaker manager. Picture: AFP

Top-quality players such as Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku — who he persuaded to come to United and not Chelsea for £75 million in 2017 — and Paul Pogba for a then world record fee of £89 million in 2016 have floundered under his authoritarian stewardship.

Indeed it was his deteriorating relationship with World Cup-winning midfielder Pogba — one of many to feel the lash of his tongue in public — that symbolised the decline at the club under him.

Mourinho questioned his attitude while the player hit back with open criticism of the tactics, culminating in him kicking his heels on the bench during the Liverpool debacle on Sunday.

Timeline of the significant lowpoints this year which led to Manchester United dismissing manager Jose Mourinho.

19 May — United lose FA Cup final 1-0 to Chelsea, ending the season without a trophy for first time in three years.

19 August — Suffer a 3-2 defeat in second game of new Premier League season to Brighton & Hove Albion.

27 August — Mourinho sees his side lose 3-0 to Tottenham at Old Trafford, the biggest home defeat of his career. Complainsabout ‘respect’ to media after the game.

22 September — Midfielder Paul Pogba says United should attack more at home after disappointing 1-1 draw with Wolves. Mourinhostrips Frenchman of vice- captaincy in growing rift.

25 September — United dumped out of the League Cup at home by second-tier Derby County on penalties.

29 September — 3-1 defeat in the league by West Ham United means United suffer their worst start to a new season in 29 years.

8 October — Investigated by FA after allegedly swearing in Portuguese to camera after 3-2 comeback win over Newcastle United.

11 November — Comprehensively outplayed and beaten 3-1 by champions Manchester City away.

16 December — Another 3-1 defeat, this time by fierce rivals Liverpool, leaves United 19 points behind their league leadingopposition.

18 December — Mourinho sacked with the club sixth in the Premier League.

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