Manchester United sack Jose Mourinho

The manager has left the club with immediate effect.

Author: Victoria GloverPublished 18th Dec 2018
Last updated 18th Dec 2018

Manchester United have announced Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect.

The Premier League side announced his departure on Twitter this morning on, ending his two-and-a-half year spell at the club.

In a statement the club said: "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 are sixth in the league table, 19 points adrift of bitter rivals Liverpool, whose 3-1 win over Mourinho's men on Sunday turned out to be his last match in charge.

The Portuguese joined United in May 2016, as a replacement for Louis van Gaal, and guided them to success in the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League in his first season.

But he was unable to deliver success in the Premier League, with United finishing sixth in 2017, and second - but 19 points adrift of runaway champions Manchester City - in 2018.

Michael Carrick will take charge of training today, before an interim boss is appointed. That move is expected to happen before the end of the week.

Reaction to the news is pouring in from fans - Andy Mitten is the editor of "United We Stand"...

Jose Mourinho's relationship with Paul Pogba was under particular scrutiny, during his time at the club and the France midfielder posted on Instagram shortly after the announcement of Mourinho's exit, with a picture of himself with a quizzical expression and the words: "Caption this.'' The post was subsequently deleted.

United Legend Gary Neville has reacted angrily to the fact he deleted the post - responding on Twitter with this...