It feels like a long time coming, but Jose Mourinho has finally been sacked by Manchester United.
After a successful first season, the former Chelsea manager has slowly edged towards the precipice, combining underwhelming performances on the field with bewildering remarks off it.
And United have now decided enough is enough, bringing Mourinho’s reign of error to an end after two-and-a-half years in charge.
So how did it happen? Sportsmail takes a look at the last 16 months to find out how it all unravelled for the Special One at Old Trafford.
Summer 2017 – Happier times
The heady days of summer see Paul Pogba praise his manager, saying he deserves the moniker of ‘the Special One’ after the Portuguese manager oversees FA Cup and Europa League success in his maiden season.
But things soon unravel after Pogba heads to Miami for treatment for a hamstring injury in September…
26 December 2017 – Hints at unrest
After a run of poor results include a League Cup defeat to Bristol City, Mourinho laments how Manchester City are capable of spending ‘striker money’ on full-backs.
Although he has already spent £300million players, he says that is not enough.
January 2018 – Mourinho signs a new contract
Jose Mourinho signs a new contract with Manchester United on 26 January. The emboldened Portuguese coach begins to take a tougher line with his squad.
The club suffer defeat against Tottenham at Wembley, with Paul Pogba substituted just after an hour.
February 2018 – Pogba falls out of favour
After the Spurs loss Pogba is then dropped for United’s trip to Huddersfield and then hauled off again after 60 minutes as United go down to lowly Newcastle.
The former Juventus midfielder was again on the bench for Manchester United’s dire first leg 0-0 draw with Sevilla in the Champions League, with youngster Scott McTominay taking his place.
Pogba had withdrawn from United’s FA Cup match against Huddersfield due to illness four days prior, which did not go down well with Mourinho.
Although Pogba was later brought on after 17 minutes in Seville after Ander Herrera was subbed off injured, his omission leads to speculation that the France international’s relationship with Mourinho has deteriorated.
24 March 2018 – Relationship with Pogba under strain
The Sun report Mourinho is barely on speaking terms with Pogba and he is instead only communicating with the player through his assistant, Rui Faria.
May 2018 – Mourinho hits out at Romelu Lukaku’s back-up options
United suffer defeat at Brighton on 5 May, completing a hat-trick of defeats against the newly promoted sides. Mourinho criticises Marcus Rashford and his back-up options in attack.
‘Now you have your answer to ‘Why always Lukaku?’ Mourinho said after the game. ‘We are not as good individually as people think we are.
23 July 2018 – Pogba ‘free from distractions’ at the World Cup, says Mourinho
Paul Pogba inspires France to World Cup glory in Russia. Speaking to ESPN, Mourinho says the World Cup is the ‘perfect habitat’ for the Frenchman.
He said: ‘Why? Because it’s closed for a month, where he can only think about football, where he’s with his team on the training camp, completely isolated from the external world, where they focus just on football, where the dimensions of the game can only motivate.’
29 July 2018 – Mourinho criticises Antonio Valencia, Anthony Martial and a lack of transfer activity
A summer of discontent lies ahead as Mourinho becomes frustrated at United’s lack of transfer activity.
He reveals he had a list of five potential targets after the Red Devils lose 4-1 to Liverpool in their International Champions Cup match in Michigan.
1 August 2018 – Martial hits back at Mourinho
Martial hits back at Mourinho on Twitter: ‘Thanks for all your posts. My little Swan is fine but for the mother it is harder. Thanks to God she is better now. Sorry but my family will always come first, back tomorrow in Manchester.’
9 August 2018- Transfer deadline closes with no new faces
Mourinho criticises the club’s inability to sign a new centre-half, saying the season will now be more difficult without reinforcements.
December 18 – The End
Mourinho lasted just 13 more games after that victory over Newcastle. He leaves the club 19 points off the top of the Premier League table after a 3-1 humbling at the hands of rivals Liverpool on Sunday.