MANCHESTER – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been officially announced as Manchester United’s caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Solskjaer has been appointed with immediate effect, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho on Tuesday, and his first game in charge will be away to his former club Cardiff on Saturday evening.
He has been managing Norwegian side Molde and has a contract with the club until 2021 but has been allowed to temporarily take over at Old Trafford on the understanding he returns to Molde in May 2019.
“Manchester United is in my heart and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role,” said Solskjaer, who scored the winning goal in their Champions League final victory in 1999.
Solskjaer scored the winning goal in their Champions League final victory in 1999.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club.”
United said Solskjaer will run the first-team while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager.
Mike Phelan, former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, joins as first-team coach alongside Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.
“That Manchester United ask Molde FK to lend the manager is by itself an event, and not least a statement of trust for both Ole Gunnar and Molde FK,” said Molde chief executive Oystein Neerland.
“We are positive to lend Ole Gunnar, we wish both him and the club a success.”
Sky Sports News understands United are interested in hiring a technical director for the first time in their history, with the new man expected to be in place before they appoint a permanent successor to Mourinho in the summer.
“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 fans as we head into the second half of the season.”
Solskjaer’s appointment was expected after the club accidentally broke the news on their website on Tuesday through a video titled ‘The Most Famous Night of Ole’s Career’.
The video was captioned: “Solskjaer becomes our interim manager, 20 seasons after clinching the Treble with THAT goal at Camp Nou…”
Solskjaer’s last management job in the Premier League was a disastrous eight-month spell at Cardiff in 2014.
