Mourinho out as manager of Man United
As Jose Mourinho leaves Manchester United, ESPN take a look back at his best and worst moments in the media. (1:55)
Manchester United have sacked Jose Mourinho after Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool left the club 11 points adrift of the Premier League top four.
The 55-year-old departs Old Trafford after two-and-a-half years with United sixth in the table, 19 points off the top, with one win in the league since Nov. 3..
United’s players and staff were given the day off on Monday following the 3-1 loss at Anfield. Sources have told ESPN FC that Mourinho was informed of the decision on Tuesday morning. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the board, according to sources, decided to act after becoming concerned at a run of results that has left United facing a battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
– LIVE: Follow all the breaking news around Mourinho’s exit
A caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current campaign with a permanent manager put in place ahead of next season. Sources have revealed that the caretaker is likely to be an outside appointment — although sources say he already has links with United with former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Laurent Blanc discussed internally in recent weeks.
Assistant Michael Carrick and academy chief Nicky Butt will take over in the immediate interim.
Sources have told ESPN FC that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the preferred choice as permanent boss, although there is an acceptance that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will fight to keep a coach who has guided the club to three consecutive top-three finishes.
Michael Carrick not a contender to take the temporary job as caretaker. He will take training this week, but an outside appointment to be made as interim manager until summer. #mufc
United are next in action against Cardiff on Saturday.
A statement issued on Tuesday morning read: “Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect. 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.”
Mourinho took charge of United in the summer of 2016 following the departure of Louis van Gaal, winning the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first season.
But although United finished second in the Premier League last season, they were a distant 19 points behind champions Manchester City, lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final and were knocked out by Sevilla in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Mourinho signed an extension to his contract in January that could have kept him at Old Trafford until 2021 but there were always growing concerns at board level that no one should feel “they are bigger than the club.”
He has cut an increasingly frustrated figure — particularly after the failure to sign a centre-back in the summer.
Mourinho has had high-profile spats with key players, most notably Paul Pogba, throughout 2018 culminating with the France international being stripped of the vice-captaincy in September. Pogba has not been in the United team for the last four Premier League fixtures.