Red Devils ditch flop Mourinho
JOSE Mourinho has been sacked after Manchester United made their worst ever start to a Premier League season, with fans’ favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under consideration to become caretaker manager.
Appointed to much fanfare in 2016, the 55-year-old became the first manager in the club’s history to win a major trophy in his maiden season.
Mourinho’s Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield successes were followed by finishing runners-up in the Premier League and FA Cup last term, but this campaign things have gone awry from the outset.
United have their worst points return after 17 matches in the Premier League era, with Sunday’s chastening 3-1 loss at Liverpool leaving them 19 points behind their bitter rivals.
They also face an eye-watering 11-point gap to the top four, leading the club to dismiss a manager they handed a contract extension to in January.
The club hope to appoint a caretaker boss in the next 48 hours – and are considering former striker Solskjaer.
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 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.”
The club have quickly set about finding an interim replacement, with former United striker and reserve team coach Solskjaer fitting the profile the club are looking for.
The 45-year-old signed a new three-year deal at Norwegian club Molde at the start of December, extending his second spell at a club he rejoined after an ill-fated spell at the helm of Saturday’s opponents Cardiff.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Mike Phelan is reportedly in the frame to work with Solskjaer.
Training was taken yesterday by first-team coach Michael Carrick after Mourinho was told the news by executive vicechairman Ed Woodward in a faceto-face meeting at the Aon Training Complex.