Manchester United have announced that former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been appointed caretaker manager until the end of the 2018-19 season.
In my heart: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) is set to take over as interim manager at Manchester United.Credit:AP
Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for United between 1996 and 2007, and in 2008 became the club's reserve-team manager, before taking the managerial role at FC Molde in Norway. He scored the remarkable last-minute goal which capped United's comeback against German giants Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final, completing the famous treble alongside the Premier League title and FA Cup.
The 45-year-old will take charge of the first team with immediate effect and will remain in place while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager. He will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, working alongside Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.
"Manchester United is in my heart and it's brilliant to be coming back in this role.
"I'm really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club," said Solskjaer on the club website.
"Ole is a club legend with huge experience, both on the pitch and in coaching roles," said Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward.
"His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back.
"We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season."
It will take some time for the euphoria to fade for Solskjaer. Once it does, it will quickly dawn on him just how big a challenge he has taken on.
Much of the blame for United’s dismal season has been laid at the door of Mourinho: The dreary tactics, the clashes with players, the needless barbs in media conferences.
But there are other factors at play, on and off the field, that Solskjaer will need to address as the team looks to turn around its worst start to a league season in 28 years.
United’s marquee and most expensive player was virtually sidelined in the last days of Mourinho’s tenure.
Paul Pogba spent more time on the bench than on the field, a waste of one of the world’s best midfield talents.
Solskjaer must find the role that most suits the French World Cup winner and get the best out of him.
Seemingly assured of a place in the team under the Norwegian, Pogba must show he deserves it. He appeared disinterested at times under Mourinho, with whom his relationship had broken down, and didn’t work hard enough.
Symptomatic relationship: Paul Pogba with Jose Mourinho. The French star’s relationship with the manager had deteriorated alarmingly.Credit:AP
Expect Solskjaer to bring more joy and freedom into Pogba’s play, but can he handle the ego of one of the world’s most high-profile players?
As a former striker himself, Solskjaer should have some strong ideas about his preferred forward line at United and of most interest will be who he chooses to lead the attack out of Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
Lukaku is a $US90 million signing who looks short of confidence; Rashford, 21, is is still learning his craft but has shown to be United’s brightest spark in recent weeks.
It will be a bold call, but Solskjaer may choose to put his faith in Rashford especially given his previous links to United’s youth team.
Another priority will fixing a defence that has conceded 29 goals in the league this season, one more than it managed the whole of the 2017-18 campaign.
Centre back remains a key position that needs strengthening. The January transfer window is also fast approaching, and Solskjaer needs to get assurances over whether United will make funds available to spend on new players or whether he has to stick with what he has.
Just last week, Mourinho said he was unaware if he would be backed in the January window, adding ‘‘it depends on the club.’’ He said he didn’t see United signing more than one player.
Reuters, AP
Source: Read Full Article