The Red Devils axed the Portuguese manager at 9.46am on Tuesday after a dreadful start to the season left them 11 points off the Champions League spots.
Despite Paul Pogba’s social media gaffe moments after the news was announced, the United squad has kept schtum since the announcement.
But after 32 hours the England midfielder, 26, has taken to Instagram to pay tribute to his former leader.
Sharing a snap of him in action with Mourinho on the touchline close by, Lingard wrote: “Thank you for the wisdom.”
Not one single player had spoken out on Mourinho’s departure on social media prior to Lingard’s message.
However, Anthony Martial, who endured a turbulent relationship with the Special One, liked a tweet of a video detailing the alleged reasons for Mourinho's downfall.
Midfielder Lingard was one of the few players who appeared to thrive under Jose’s tutelage despite his spats with stars such as Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Luke Shaw.
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During the World Cup he even spoke about how pivotal the coach had been to his career.
Lingard told talkSPORT: “[Mourinho] has been great with me.
“He’s put that trust and faith in me to play me in big matches week-in, week-out.
“It’s only up to me to repay that faith by playing well and putting on good performances.
“He’s played a massive part in my development and I can only thank him for that.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho has also broken his silence after the 55-year-old released a statement today vowing not to speak about his old colleagues.
He said: “I have been immensely proud to wear the badge of Manchester United since the first day I arrived, and I believe all United supporters recognise this.
“Just as was the base with my previous clubs, I have worked with some wonderful people and I believe some will be my friends for life.
“I know that you are all aware of my professional principles. Each time a chapter is closed I show my deepest regrets and don’t make any comments about my former colleagues.
“I hope the media will also respect my position and let me live my normal life until the moment I decide to return to football. Merry Christmas.”
United earlier confirmed their legendary former Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager until the end of the season.
Ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino are the favourites to become Mourinho’s permanent successor next summer.
Solskjaer, who will return to managing Norwegian side Molde at the end of the campaign, takes charge of the Red Devils for the first time against his old club Cardiff on Saturday.
New Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refuses to deny he is LIVERPOOL fan
NEW Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has failed to deny he in fact is a Liverpool fan.
The Red Devils' legend has taken over at Old Trafford following Jose Mourinho's sacking on Tuesday.
Solskjaer spent 11 years at the Theatre of Dreams and scored 123 goals for United after Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Molde in 1996.
He was loved by the Red Devils supporters for his killer instinct and, most importantly, the fabled last-minute goal against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.
The Norwegian has now been chosen to turn things around at United following Mourinho's departure after the humiliating 3-1 defeat to arch-enemies Liverpool on Sunday.
But when quizzed about rumours claiming that he in fact grew up as the Reds’ fan, Solskjaer’s answer was very vague.
Click here to read what he had to say.
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