Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United following their disappointing start to the season.

United who currently are sixth in the Premier League table have already lost five times in 17 matches, and 19 points behind leaders Liverpool and 11 off fourth-placed Chelsea for a Champions League spot.

Mourinho has not been coy to drop hints about his unhappiness at the club’s failure to secure big signings during the summer, and he now leaves after two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford, with his final match in charge Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to eternal rivals Liverpool.

“Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect,” a statement read.

“The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to 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.”

Mourinho came in as a replacement for Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2016 with the target of leading the former English giants back to the top of the domestic game after a barren three years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s appointment.