Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was recently spotted in Cheshire, could make a sensational return to Manchester United as caretaker manager until the end of the season. The Norwegian was sacked from his role at Old Trafford in November 2021 after almost three years in charge, and was initially appointed as interim head coach at the end of 2018, replacing Jose Mourinho, before taking over permanently the following year.
The Red Devils are looking for an interim leader after parting ways with Ruben Amorim earlier this week. According to the Manchester Evening News, Solskjaer is not the only former United player being considered. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Michael Carrick have also been approached about stepping in until the end of the season.
Carrick and Van Nistelrooy have previously managed the club for short periods, with the former Dutch striker taking over before Amorim’s appointment. Solskjaer, who left Turkish club Besiktas in August following their exit from the Conference League, is now considered to be the frontrunner for Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old was spotted in Waitrose near his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, today, fueling speculation of a return.
Solskjaer has expressed a strong desire to return to the club and is rapidly becoming the front-runner for the position. During his last spell, Solskjaer led his side to back-to-back top three finishes in the Premier League (the first since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era) and to the Europa League final, where they lost to Villarreal.
He also led his team to a second-place finish in 2021, a feat only achieved by Mourinho since Ferguson retired in 2013. As a player, the former Cardiff City manager made over 200 appearances for the Red Devils, winning six Premier League titles and winning the legendary treble in 1999.
United are reportedly looking to find an interim solution until the end of the season, with plans to appoint a permanent head coach for the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, Fletcher is scheduled to lead his side in Wednesday night’s Premier League match against Burnley and Sunday’s FA Cup match against Brighton.
