Manchester United sacks manager Louis van Gaal

Manchester United has sacked Louis van Gaal as manager and named Jose Mourinho as his replacement.

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Manchester United has sacked Louis van Gaal as manager and will name Jose Mourinho as his replacement, according to the BBC.

Reports emerged on Saturday that Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea in December, would replace van Gaal as manager, and the team is expected to confirm the hire on Tuesday, according to the BBC. Manchester United confirms van Gaal's departure Monday while claiming his successor would be announced "soon."

"I would like to thank Louis and his staff for their excellent work in the past two years culminating in winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club (and securing him a title in four different countries)" United vice chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement. "He has behaved with great professionalism and dignity throughout his time here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given several young players the confidence to show their ability on the highest stage. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best in the future."

Van Gaal was in the second year of his three-year contract with Manchester United, and led the club to a 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday to win the FA Cup.

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"I am immensely proud to have helped United win the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club's history," van Gaal said in a team-issued statement. "I have been privileged during my management career to have won 20 trophies but winning the FA Cup, which is steeped in so much history, will always be one of the most special achievements of my career. I am very disappointed to be unable to complete our intended three-year plan. I believe that the foundations are firmly in place to enable the club to move forward and achieve even greater success. I hope that winning the FA Cup will give the club a platform to build upon next season to restore the success that this passionate set of fans desire."

United finished fifth in the Premier League this season, failing to qualify for the Champions League.