Mourinho sacked - as it happened: Manchester United manager leaves club with immediate effect

Latest news, updates and reaction after Mourinho leaves United with immediate effect

Jose Mourinho faces the press after Manchester United lose to Liverpool

Jose Mourinho left Manchester United with immediate effect on Tuesday morning.

The Portuguese leaves with United sixth in the table with the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday proving his final game in charge.

A club statement 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."

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Key Points

• Jose Mourinho has left Manchester United with immediate effect
• The Portuguese leaves with United seventh with just seven wins all season
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Laurent Blanc in frame to be interim boss
• Mauricio Pochettino refuses to answer questions over United job
• The inside story of Mourinho's sacking

[18 December 2018 10:01 · Ben Burrows]

Jose Mourinho has left Manchester United with immediate effect.

The Portuguese leaves with United sixth in the table with the defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday proving his final game in charge.

Follow the latest updates and reaction right here:

[18 December 2018 10:03 · Ben Burrows]

Here is the club statement:

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. 

[18 December 2018 10:09 · Ben Burrows]

The Portuguese leaves with United sixth in the table with the defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday proving his final game in charge.

That defeat - and the nature of it - has proven the final straw for Mourinho.

United have mustered only seven wins in the Premier League this season with five defeats.

Even progression to the last-16 of the Champions League - where they will play PSG - wasn't enough to save him.

[18 December 2018 10:11 · Ben Burrows]

Sky Sports are reporting that Michael Carrick will NOT be handed the reins.

They instead suggest an external candidate will be given the caretaker role.

It remains to be seen who that will be with a number of candidates available to take over until the end of the season.

[18 December 2018 10:20 · Ben Burrows]

Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino is the "ideal" candidate to take over from Mourinho.

I was fortunate enough to spend two or three days at Tottenham's training ground and for me he just feels like the most ideal candidate.

Manchester United have tried mansagers who have won European Cups, managers who have won leagues, managers who have a solid grounding in the Premier League.

My view is they ned someone who follows the three key principles of that football club which is promoting youth, entertaining football and winning football matches.

People say he hasn't won trophies at Tottenham but for a net spend of minus £29m he couldn't have done more, he's done the most incredible job and I do think he is the outstanding candidate.

He is the individual I think who fits the profile of what Manchester United need.

You look at his performance levels and the style of play you look at the way he carries himself in public and private, for me he just feels like the most ideal candidate.

[18 December 2018 10:26 · Ben Burrows]

Here's the full story on this morning's huge news:

[18 December 2018 10:37 · Ben Burrows]

Erm...

[18 December 2018 10:40 · Ben Burrows]

For those of you just joining us here's what we know:

• Jose Mourinho has been sacked as manager of Manchester United
• He leaves with immediate effect
• The defeat to Liverpool proves his final game in charge after two-and-a-half years
• Michael Carrick will not take over as caretaker manager
• An external candidate will be appointed in the coming days

[18 December 2018 10:50 · Ben Burrows]

Here's Mourinho's record as he bows out from his sixth club:

Porto - 889 days (Left for Chelsea)

Chelsea - 1176 days (Sacked)

Inter - 727 days (Left for Real Madrid)

Real - 1126 days (Sacked)

Chelsea - 899 days (Sacked

United - 935 days (Sacked)

[18 December 2018 11:00 · Ben Burrows]

So where does Jose go from here?

Mourinho leaves United with the club languishing a distant sixth in the Premier League – a full 19 points behind bitter rivals Liverpool, who sit top.

The self-anointed Special One’s career now appears to be at something of a crossroads, given his recent high-profile failures at both United and Chelsea.

But where will Mourinho go next? Here we take a look at the options.