Manchester United sacked manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday after the club’s worst start to a season in nearly three decades, hoping to bring about a radical change in atmosphere and the direction of the club.
Mourinho, 55, became increasingly spiky in his last few months at Old Trafford, lashing out at the board’s transfer policy and turning his fire on his squad, especially record signing Paul Pogba.
His constant complaints about the players’ lack of desire had an impact on the pitch, culminating in the 3-1 defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, which left United 19 points behind their opponents.
Mourinho’s sacking comes just two-and-a-half years into his tenure, and three years and a day since Chelsea dismissed him just months after he had guided them to the title.
Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, currently in charge of Norwegian club Molde, is reportedly being considered for the role of caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Mourinho’s dismissal saw the share price in the US-owned club rise on Wall Street by more than five percent to $18.18.
Former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra expressed hope a change in management would bring a marked change in atmosphere.
“The club needs an injection of positivity, and hopefully this decision will allow that to happen,” Ferdinand posted on Instagram.
United’s worst start in the league since 1990 means even Mourinho’s ambition of finishing in the top four and a Champions League qualification spot is in danger.
The club has reached the Champions League knockout stages, where they face an intimidating last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
But a combination of poor results, dressing-room discord and criticism of the board proved potent factors in the decision to dismiss the Portuguese manager.
A United source told AFP that Mourinho had been supported in his efforts to sign players, and described reports of player power at the club as being key to the sacking as wide of the mark.
United will reportedly have to pay Mourinho £22.5 million to sever ties.
In the longer term, former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has been linked to the club, as has his fellow 1998 World Cup-winning teammate Laurent Blanc, who played for United.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is also strongly tipped.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær har signert en forlengelse av kontrakten som Molde-manager. https://t.co/xCAnJHhg8b pic.twitter.com/bzCMRqpHJG
— Molde Fotballklubb (@Molde_FK) December 3, 2018
One bookmaker makes Pochettino the early favourite, although the 46-year-old Argentinian refused to be drawn on the speculation.
“We know a lot of rumours happen. But it’s not my business what happens in another club now,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was back at Old Trafford in October to watch the game against Juventus. Doubt he ever imagined he would soon be in frame for caretaker role - nearly 20 years after firing United to Champions League glory. Amazing. #ManUtd
— Ciaran Kelly (@MENCKelly) December 18, 2018
Pochettino, though, fits the bill for former Manchester United midfielder Gary Neville.
“They need someone who meets the three key principles of that football club: the promotion of youth, entertaining football and to win football matches,” Neville told Sky Sports News.
“People suggest he (Pochettino) hasn’t won a trophy yet at Tottenham, but with a net spend of minus £29 million or something over the last four years, I’m not sure he could have done more.
“I do think he is the person who is the outstanding candidate.”
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
Mourinho’s reign had started well enough with the League Cup and the Europa League trophies, but for a club that have been champions of England 20 times, neighbours Manchester City’s dominance over them in the league has hurt.
Despite his protestations to the contrary, the United board gave Mourinho plenty of money to compete.
Top-quality players such as Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku – who he persuaded to snub Chelsea and come to United for £75 million in 2017 – and Pogba for a then-world record fee of £89 million in 2016 have floundered under his authoritarian stewardship.
Indeed it was Mourinho’s deteriorating relationship with World Cup-winning midfielder Pogba – one of many to feel the lash of his tongue in public – that symbolised the decline at the club under him.
Mourinho questioned his attitude, while the player hit back with open criticism of the tactics, culminating in him kicking his heels on the bench during the Liverpool debacle on Sunday.
The manager’s overall Premier League points haul of 176 since his appointment by United lagged behind City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea during the same period.
There was sympathy too for Mourinho, including from Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool side had sealed his fate, and whose positive football exposed painfully the negative tactics of the United manager.
“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.”