Louis van Gaal Sacked By Man Utd, Jose Mourinho Set To Sign 3-Year Contract

Louis van Gaal has been sacked as Manchester United manager this morning just two days after winning the FA Cup with Jose Mourinho set to take over on a three-year deal, according to the Mirror.

The newspaper is one of several media outlets who are reporting that having arrived at United’s Carrington training complex at around 8.45am this morning, van Gaal was called in to a meeting with executive vice chairman Ed Woodward where he was told he was being relieved of his duties.

It’s reported that van Gaal’s coaching staff have also been sacked with assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek both leaving the club with immediate effect.

van Gaal was followed in to the training ground by employment lawyer Paul Gilroy QC, who works with the League Managers Association and acted for David Moyes when he was sacked two years ago, and he was also present at the meeting where it was confirmed that a change of manager was required.

van Gaal still had one year remaining on the £6m-a-year, three-year deal, he signed in 2014 but the 64-year-old will have the final 12 months paid in full, with United expected to make an official announcement over the coming hours.

The writing has been on the wall for van Gaal for several months following a disappointing campaign with supporters and players becoming increasingly disillusioned by the Dutchman’s tactics.

The Red Devils narrowly missed out on a top four finish but it would have masked what has been a woeful campaign for the Manchester giants, who’ve played some of their worst football in recent memory under van Gaal.

The Dutchman did manage to end his reign on a high note having lifted the FA Cup with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Crystal Palace, but the celebrations were overshadowed by speculation linking Mourinho with the United job.

The Mirror claim that the Portuguese coach is expected to have talks with United chiefs tomorrow and is expected to sign a three-year contract to take over at Old Trafford over the next 24-48 hours.

The former Chelsea boss is then likely to be handed a huge transfer kitty as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for top honours again after a frustrating few years of underachievement.