MANCHESTER United have announced manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect.

A statement from United on Tuesday morning said: "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."

Jose's tenure has been a disappointment despite landing the League Cup, Europa League and the Community Shield in his two and a half seasons.

United are 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, which is bad enough but worse they are 11 points behind Chelsea, in fourth, which is their poorest start to a campaign since 1990. 

Mourinho had already conceded that United's best hope was to qualify for next year's Champions League by coming fourth, though they are still in this season's competition, taking on Paris St-Germain in the round-of-16 draw.