FORMER Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being linked with a stunning Old Trafford return.
The Red Devils are searching for a new manager after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday.
Ten Hag leaves the club with United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.
He was given his marching orders following a dismal run of just 4 wins in 14 games across all competitions.
Ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been put in temporary charge and is currently favourite to take over full-time.
But it’s reportedly another blast from the past who may be back in the dugout long-term.
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Solskjaer – who has been a free agent since United dismissed him in November 2021 – could benefit from the awkward timing of the dismissal.
Ten Hag is due a whopping £17million in compensation with United having to buy him out of his huge contract.
Cost-cutting is already underway at Old Trafford and club bosses are reportedly scouring cheaper options.
According to the Manchester Evening News, free agent Solskjaer is therefore “under consideration for a return.”
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The report adds it is unclear if he is viewed as a” serious long-term option as manager or a backroom staff member.”
Solskjaer, 51, cemented his place as a Red Devils legend during his playing days.
He spent nine seasons with United, winning six Premier League titles and scoring over 100 goals.
The former super sub took on the manager’s role at the Theatre of Dreams in 2018 after a successful spell in interim charge.
But despite leading United to a Europa League final, he was sacked by the club in November 2021.
Ten Hag’s five worst defeats
ERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.
5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023
The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.
4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023
It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.
3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022
Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag’s second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.
2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024
The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.
1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023
Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years.
Ole recently revealed he would be open to a shock return to Manchester.
When asked about taking the United job, he told Norweigan outlet NRK in September: “If your family needs you, then of course they will help.
“I would say ‘yes’ any day of the week.
“It feels wrong to sit and talk about jobs that other people have. But of course, yes.”
Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man Utd
SunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.
THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.
And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.
If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.
The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.
He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.
None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.
Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.
And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.
Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.
Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.
Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.
Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.
Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.
Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.
Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.
Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.
Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.
Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.
So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part.
United chose to move on from Ten Hag on Monday following weeks of speculation.
The Dutchman had signed a one-year contract extension over the summer after securing an unexpected FA Cup title.
However, United released a short 87-word statement on Monday to confirm they were parting ways.
It read: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
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“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
