The Portuguese boss has been in charge for two and a half years but during his third season in charge the Manchester club have slipped down to sixth in the table, 19 points off top of the table Liverpool.
The 3-1 defeat to the Merseysiders on Sunday proved to be the final straw for the club’s board who are now looking to put a caretaker manager in charge until the end of the season.
The leading contender for the position is Michael Carrick, who is 10/11 odds-on favourite with Sky Bet to take up the role. The former United midfielder was on Mourinho’s coaching staff and is the obvious candidate, along with academy manager Nicky Butt.
United languish 19 points off league leaders Liverpool and eight points adrift of the top four after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield.
Mourinho has been on a collision course with the United board all season after hitting out at the club’s recruitment policy in the summer.
The Portuguese only signed a new long-term deal at the start of the year but United have now confirmed a caretaker manager will be put in place for the remainder of the season.
“Manchester United announce that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“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.”
Zinedine Zidane, former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino and ex PSG head coach Laurent Blanc are all in the frame to take over in the summer.