Manchester United sack Louis van Gaal as Dutch boss receives £5m pay-off with Jose Mourinho preparing to take charge
- Louis van Gaal has been dismissed from his role at Manchester United
- Jose Mourinho will take over reins at Old Trafford following Van Gaal's exit
- Albert Stuivenberg, Frans Hoek and Max Reckers have also left the club
- Ryan Giggs' future is up in the air following Van Gaal's sacking
Manchester United have sacked Louis van Gaal just two days after the Dutchman led them to victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.
Van Gaal, who has been given a £5million pay-off on top of £400,000 for winning the FA Cup, has been made to pay for United's poor Premier League campaign and will be replaced by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
His Dutch coaching staff - including United assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek - have also left the club with immediate effect.
Louis van Gaal has been sacked by Manchester United just two days after leading the club to the FA Cup
Van Gaal was pictured arriving at United's Aon Training Complex on Monday morning ahead of his sacking
Employment lawyer Paul Gilroy QC arrived at Carrington to finalise Van Gaal's departure from United
Van Gaal's last act at Manchester United was lifting the FA Cup following his side's win over Crystal Palace
Goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek (far left) and Albert Stuivenberg (far right) have left the club along with Van Gaal, while Ryan Giggs (second left) could stay at the club
Performance analyst Max Reckers (far left) has also been shown the Old Trafford exit door by United along with his compatriots Hoek (second left), Stuivenberg (third left) and Van Gaal
Jose Mourinho (left, pictured with Van Gaal) will take over the reins at Old Trafford following the sacking
Mourinho (pictured) and his agent Jorge Mendes will hold talks with Manchester United on Tuesday
An official club statement is due at 1pm (BST), shortly before the New York Stock Exchange opens.
Ed Woodward arrived at Manchester United's Carrington training complex ahead of talks with Van Gaal on Monday morning.
The United executive vice-chairman informed Van Gaal he will no longer continue as manager as they look to appoint Mourinho as his successor.
Van Gaal arrived at Carrington at around 8.45am. His entire coaching staff were also present as they learned their fate.
Mourinho expects to have more talks on Tuesday ahead of signing a three-year deal with his long-term assistant Rui Faria and goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro expected to follow.
Ryan Giggs' future at United is up in the air despite Mourinho's wish to keep the Welshman at the club.
Van Gaal's trusted performance analyst Max Reckers, who caused friction within the Manchester United family, has also been shown the Old Trafford exit door.
Van Gaal was followed into United's training ground by employment lawyer Paul Gilroy QC, who has long worked with the League Managers Association.
Having initially been turned away by security, he was allowed into the complex around an hour after the Dutchman arrived.
Gilroy lists former United manager David Moyes among the clients he has advised, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Hodgson and Brendan Rodgers.
Chambers and Partners describe Gilroy as 'a noted employment specialist' who is 'renowned for getting a fantastic deal for managers'.
Mourinho's trusted assistant Rui Faria (right) is expected to join Mourinho at Manchester United
Mourinho (right) learned his trade under Van Gaal at Barcelona but will now replace his former boss
Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs (left, pictured with Bastian Schweinsteiger) could stay
Manchester United's official logistics partner DHL tweeted 'Happy Monday!' shortly after Sportsmail broke news of Van Gaal's sacking
Before the celebrations had even subsided at Wembley on Saturday, United's FA Cup win was being overshadowed by fresh reports that Van Gaal was to be replaced by the former Chelsea boss in the coming days.
United have steadfastly refused to comment on speculation regarding their managerial situation, while the Portuguese kept his counsel when asked about the job ahead of David Haye's fight on Saturday evening.
Van Gaal stood firm when asked about his position in the post-match press conference at Wembley, but fuelled speculation on Sunday by telling a reporter outside the team hotel that 'it's over'.
The brevity of the comment meant it was not immediately clear whether that meant the former Holland manager had been told his time at United was at an end.
Two years ago predecessor Moyes attended a morning meeting with Woodward at the club's training complex and a statement confirming the Scot's sacking followed shortly afterwards, just 10 months into a six-year deal to replace Ferguson.
Van Gaal still has a season remaining on his three-year contract, while Mourinho has been out of work since paying for Chelsea's abysmal title defence with his job in December.
Van Gaal's predecessor David Moyes was also sacked by Manchester United chief Ed Woodward
Woodward (centre left) congratulates Van Gaal following United's 2-1 extra-time win over Crystal Palace
Van Gaal (left) leaves Stockport train station on Sunday morning, the day after his side lifted the FA Cup
Mourinho (pictured leaving his house in London on Sunday) will be on a £75m five-year contract at United
Van Gaal was unveiled as Manchester United's manager by Sir Bobby Charlton on July 17, 2014
Van Gaal lost his job because of United's poor Premier League form during the course of the season
The Portuguese has repeatedly spoken of his plans to return to work this summer, and reviving United's fortunes would surely be a mouth-watering proposition for the self-styled 'Special One'.
United, a club synonymous with a swashbuckling, attacking style, managed a paltry 49 league goals - their lowest return for 26 years - and missed out on Champions League qualification to neighbours Manchester City on goal difference.
A first FA Cup win since 2004 was a welcome boost, but captain Wayne Rooney admitted the campaign was far from good enough.
'He has been under pressure. I think we all have,' Rooney said of Van Gaal.
'That's part of playing for Manchester United and managing Manchester United - it is a massive club.
'You have to set standards and we fell below them this season.
'But we have to make sure as players we get back to those standards and make sure we are back challenging for the main trophies.'
Success is something former United midfielder and Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins is backing Mourinho to bring back to Old Trafford.
'I think it is the right move,' he told talkSPORT. 'It is the only move for them. He will get them playing again and he will get them winning again.
'He is a winner - there is no two ways about it. When he goes to a club, normally he wins a big trophy within the first couple of years.'
United captain Wayne Rooney (left) has admitted his side failed to live up to expectations this season
Van Gaal was allowed to make several high-profile signings, such as Angel di Maria, during his time at United
Mourinho will link back up with Juan Mata (right) - he sold the Spaniard to the Red Devils in January 2014
A vast majority of Manchester United supporters have got their wish with Mourinho set to replace Van Gaal