Jose Mourinho has been sacked, after Manchester United made their worst-ever start to an English Premier League season, with fans' favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under consideration to become caretaker manager.
Appointed to much fanfare in the summer of 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 Monday's (NZT) 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 whose contract they extended in January.
Press Association Sport understands the club hopes to appoint a caretaker boss with links to the club in the next 48 hours - and is considering former striker Solskjaer.
A club statement on Wednesday 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 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 has quickly begun finding an interim replacement, with former United striker and reserve team coach Solskjaer fitting the profile the club is 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, with talk of former Paris St Germain manager and United defender Laurent Blanc coming in as interim replacement understood to be wide of the mark.
ON Wednesday, training was taken by first-team coach Michael Carrick, after executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward told Mourinho the news in a face-to-face meeting at the Aon Training Complex.
The Portuguese left in a car at about 12.25pm local time and was later seen leaving his home at the Lowry Hotel, where he was met by cameras and asked how he was feeling.
"OK, my friend," Mourinho said, before posing for pictures.
While the sacking shocked the footballing world, talk of the manager's impending departure appeared to be building in the United dressing room before the announcement.
Few are understood to be sad to see him leave, both in terms of the club's players and staff, with Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino believed to be the main target to take the reins next summer.
PA
