Jose Mourinho sacked by Manchester United: Reaction from Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Lineker and more
Jose Mourinho has been relieved of his duties at Manchester United and the world of football has been reacting to the news.
The Portuguese boss was sacked following Sunday's defeat to rivals Liverpool, which left them sixth in the Premier League, 19 points adrift of the leaders and 11 behind the top four, as well as having already conceded more goals than the whole of last season.
The club made the decision to end the 55-year-old's tenure amid growing discontent over his playing style and the atmosphere behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick was due to take training on Tuesday, but United plan to name a caretaker manager from outside the club by the end of the week to see out the season, with a permanent appointment to follow in the summer.
Former player and ex-PSG manager Laurent Blanc is the current favourite to take over on an interim basis.
Mourinho gone: Sporting Life coverage
Mourinho has had a reputation for difficult third seasons throughout his career, and his United spell has proved no different, with the season marked by high-profile clashes with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial alongside disappointing displays on the pitch.
Within an hour of United announcing Mourinho's departure from the club, Pogba posted a cryptic message on Instagram apparently alluding to the news before swiftly deleting it.
See more reaction from the former players and the media, below...
Graeme Souness:
Graeme Souness thinks the writing has been on the wall for Jose Mourinho after his departure.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 18, 2018
Jose Mourinho has been sacked by @ManUtd: https://t.co/cMgxUIfykQ
Follow updates and reaction after Jose Mourinho is sacked as @ManUtd manager here: https://t.co/kouvEuOFMj pic.twitter.com/KSJ9CqLIQF
Gary Lineker:
With @ManUtd 19 points behind @LFC after 17 games, with the vast majority of players playing way below their best...and dour football to boot. Given Mourinho was allowed to spend hundreds of millions on those players the split seemed inevitable.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 18, 2018
Rio Ferdinand:
I was one of his biggest advocates 2 & half years ago when he joined @ManUtd & felt he stabilised our club when we needed it... You can’t ignore what Jose has achieved as a manager previously but I feel the time has come for fresh ideas at #MUFC
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 18, 2018
https://t.co/zQ1aSig9Tz pic.twitter.com/u3HlbUptIn
“ Caption This “
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 18, 2018
You do one as well !
Jamie Carragher:
"You have to go back to the start of the season, I thought it was inevitable Jose Mourinho wouldn't be the manager the following season," the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports News.
"There's been a lot of problems between him and the board and with his big-name players within the squad, there was a massive downturn in the relationship that was there for all to see.
"Taking the captaincy off Pogba, giving it to him in the first place, it all just looked like it was coming to an end and that was before a ball was even kicked."
Michael Owen:
Inevitable is the word I’d use. Mourinho had to go in the end. Simply not getting anywhere near enough out of his players.
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) December 18, 2018
Patrice Evra:
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 pic.twitter.com/ClmWqmgf7G
— Patrice Evra (@Evra) December 18, 2018
Louis Saha:
Don’t think Mourinho communicated correctly. Still a great manager tho. Will be great to see the next manager well known for his attacking philosophy. The focus must be in creating back links between players. Where we can identify good connection that no tactics can easily stop.
— Louis Saha (@louissaha) December 18, 2018
Andrew Cole:
I would personally like to wish Jose all the best in the future... let’s stay United as a club & keep the focus on the pitch until end of the season! ❤️⚽️ @ManUtd https://t.co/TxnBgXxAq2
— Andrew Cole (@vancole9) December 18, 2018
Former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen:
On BBC Radio 5 Live: "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.
"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."
Jurgen Klopp
"He is a competitive guy, very ambitious. I can imagine the last few months were not a joy. It is not nice to face all those questions," the German said.
"But nobody can take away all the things he has won. I hope he has that on his mind as he leaves. He is an outstanding manager."
And more...
Gianfranco Zola, on media conference duty today, says it is never pleasent to see a coach losing his job, following the departure of Jose Mourinho from Man United, especially someone who won so much at Chelsea. Zola wishes him well. #CHEBOU
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 18, 2018
Mourinho will get all the headlines but those upstairs at Old Trafford need to seriously review how they do things after failing every manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 18, 2018
Jose Mourinho will now be gleefully pulverised by all & sundry but I love the guy.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 18, 2018
Brilliant manager, great character, incredible track record.
Too many overpaid mediocre flash git egos in that United team.
Jose will be back soon, winning big trophies again. pic.twitter.com/3Z8NfHp8vL
Jose Mourinho . Gone ! Three or four players should be getting their suit cases at the ready , because what’s been going on on the field is disgraceful. I’d have a mirror put in the dressing Room . #MUFC.
— Paul McGrath (@Paulmcgrath5) December 18, 2018
Another reason given on the timing of Mourinho's sacking is #mufc want someone to put the smiles back on people's faces at the club.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 18, 2018
Is Southgate the one for @ManUtd?
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 18, 2018
"I'd want a feel-good factor, someone to bring through young players, somebody that plays in the right way."
Gareth Southgate should succeed Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, says Danny Mills: https://t.co/KBKRSzp8aN pic.twitter.com/1L2lQhRYX9
Does anyone know how many departures we have to Portugal today? ⚽🇵🇹✈
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) December 18, 2018
It’s the most wonderful time of the yeaaaarrr... unless you’re Jose. Truly a terrible time of the year for Jose.
— Greg Rutherford (@GregJRutherford) December 18, 2018
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