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 12:55 · Ben Burrows]

Want a little more spice to your afternoon?

Mauricio Pochettino is about to face the press ahead of Tottenham's EFL Cup quarter-final against Arsenal tomorrow.

Wonder what he'll be asked about? We'll have the latest here:

[18 December 2018 12:58 · Ben Burrows]

Here's Poch:

I feel so sorry because you know very well I have a very good relationship with him so it’s very sad news what happened today.

It’s not my business what happened today and only I want to send my best wishes to Jose.

[18 December 2018 13:01 · Ben Burrows]

More from Poch:

I think after nearly five years there’s a lot of rumours at what will happen. I cannot answer this type of question because it’s a rumour and anything could happen in the business of football. Also I respect a lot what happens here.

The business we know very well, a lot of rumours happen, but it’s not my business. I’m so focused on trying to deliver our best this season.

[18 December 2018 13:15 · Ben Burrows]

Former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has had his say on today's events.

"I think they've looked back critically to where they are and asked themselves, 'Is this the right way forward?', and with the transfer window right ahead of them, so I can understand the timing."

He added: "It's difficult to have an opinion on that for people on the outside as we're not in the midst of it, but you can see how the team have performed and in our opinion some players have underperformed.

"You hear people talking about how United have lost their identity and that's what you see among the players. There is no really clear direction and certainly not after they'd been under Sir Alex Ferguson for so many years."

[18 December 2018 13:30 · Ben Burrows]

As the world pores over the months leading up to the end of José Mourinho’s Manchester United tenure, different people will pinpoint their own distinct moments of when it became apparent that it wasn’t going to work out.

The training ground snub of Paul Pogba. The belligerent swears into the camera in Portuguese, which he somehow got away with. The smashed drinks container.

Let us save you the bother. Here's Andy Brassell:

[18 December 2018 13:45 · Ben Burrows]

When asked for his thoughts on Mourinho at a pre-match press conference to preview Chelsea's Carabao Cup tie against Bournemouth, assistant manager Gianfranco Zola said: "Well, it's never pleasant to see a coach being dismissed from a job. It's not pleasant for anyone.

"Especially it's not pleasant for someone like Jose who has won so much in the game and so much for this club.

"Sad like many others. I want to wish him the best. I'm sure he will have more adventures.

"Nowadays getting the sack is part of the job, for everyone, from the small coaches to the big ones. Knowing the character and personality of Jose, I'm sure he'll want to bounce back."

[18 December 2018 14:00 · Ben Burrows]

Where next for Jose? Well it could be somewhere he's been before.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez still wants Mourinho to be the next manager at the club, despite the Portuguese getting sacked from Manchester United on Tuesday morning.

The European champions currently have former player Santiago Solari as caretaker, but Perez feels Mourinho could be the man to fix their many problems,and oversee a planned overhaul of the club.

Mourinho was manager of Madrid from 2010 to 2013, but left after developing a toxic relationship with the playing squad, despite winning the title in 2011-12.

Here's Miguel Delaney with the details:

[18 December 2018 14:15 · Ben Burrows]

Michael Owen, who played for United from 2009 to 2012, has joined the list of former players to tweet about Mourinho's departure.

"Inevitable is the word I'd use," Owen wrote. "Mourinho had to go in the end. Simply not getting anywhere near enough out of his players."

[18 December 2018 14:30 · Ben Burrows]

Whisper it quietly, but Liverpool - yes, Liverpool - could've shown United the way forward.

Allow Simon Hughes to explain:

[18 December 2018 14:45 · Ben Burrows]

Former United left-back Patrice Evra called for "positivity" in the wake of Mourinho's departure.

The Frenchman also admitted his frustration at how much attention is being given to the relationship between Mourinho and Pogba.

Evra wrote: "The thing that is annoying me the most right now is why are people so focused on paulpogba and Jose Mourinho.

"Let's focus on rebuilding something solid instead of being in a playground. Doing this is only disrespecting the badge, from now we only need positivity. #ManUtd #MUFC"