Manchester United have dispensed with the services of controversial Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho. The 55-year-old has left after the Red Devils endured an unconvincing start to their season.

According to Sky Sports, Mourinho’s former assistant Michael Carrick will be in temporary charge for the next 48 hours, with the Red Devils expected to appoint an interim boss until the end of the season.

Criticised for the team’s lack of identity

During the Premier League era, Manchester United have been renowned for a team with a firm identity because of their style of play. However, under Jose Mourinho, this season especially, it is hard to gauge United’s identity.

They are not a team that play possession-based football, they are not a long-ball team and they are not a team that hits teams in devastating counter-attacks. They are not even a team that keeps it tight and win by the odd goal, as Mourinho’s teams have done in the past.

This lack of identity really irks the fans. That is why Mourinho was not a universally popular figure amongst the Red Devils fans.

Mourinho was not a good fit for United

Jose Mourinho and Manchester United should have been a fantastic fit back in 2016. He was one of the best tacticians in world football and United were a club who were in need of a great boss to reignite the good times.

However, Manchester United fans had been more accustomed to playing attacking football under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scots team did always play attacking football but did more often than not.

In fact, Ferguson knew how to be pragmatic just like Mourinho. However, Mourinho has made a very successful managerial career out of his pragmatism. He is one of the most successful head coaches of the modern era in the European game.

The former Chelsea boss will go down as one of the best football coaches of all time due to the number of trophies he has won during his career. However, his time at United is unlikely to be included in the career highlights of the Portuguese boss.

He may not admit it in public, but it may be true that Mourinho may look back at his time at Manchester United with regret. It was certainly not his best few years in management that is for sure.

Who will replace Mourinho?

The big question is now who will replace Mourinho in the Old Trafford hot seat? With speculation that there could be a temporary appointment at United, then it is hard to know who will come in next on a permanent basis.

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is currently the favourite to be the next Manchester United boss. However, the likes of Guus Hiddink, Antonio Conte and Leonardo Jardim are believed to be leading contenders for the job.

Somebody who has been mentioned on forums is former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Although that may have been a humorous suggestion, rather than a serious one.

Whoever comes in has a major job on their hands to lift spirits at Old Trafford. The men from Manchester are currently way off the pace in the race for the Champions League spots. The next few months are sure to be interesting at the Theatre of Dreams.

Did Jose Mourinho deserve more time at Manchester United?