The Portuguese coach, seen by many as divisive, failed to bring attacking football to the North-West club and the insipid display against Liverpool on Sunday looks to have been the last straw.

United would have been encouraged by last season's second place finish as local rivals Manchester City were out of sight in a record points season. However, poor results, infighting and tactical negativity have characterised the first part of this campaign.

Expensive forward Alexis Sanchez never found his feet under Mourinho and 75 Million pound Romelu Lukaku is often woeful against quality opposition despite his bravura World Cup display over the summer. Central defence is a constant bone of contention after Mourinho targeted and bought players that he subsequently sought to replace, and no partnership at the back - a real key to premier league success - has ever been established.

"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's statement said. Whether this will be former player Michael Carrick, who is already on the coaching staff, remains to be seen.

The festive period appears not to be a good time for Mourinho. Around the same time three years ago (17 December 2015) he was given his marching orders at Chelsea.

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