Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Ex-Manchester United boss open to Old Trafford managerial return – ‘Every day of the week'
Published 27/09/2024 at 09:12 GMT+1
Former Manchester United player and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said "of course" he would return to Old Trafford for a managerial return, but made clear his discomfort in talking about the role currently filled by Erik ten Hag. United have struggled in their start to the 2024/25 campaign with three wins from eight matches, and were frustrated in a 1-1 draw with FC Twente on Wednesday.
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Manchester United legend and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he would be more than happy to return to the club if they were to call upon him for a return to the Old Trafford dug-out.
The former Norway international led United as manager from 2018-2021, before eventually being dismissed after a lack of silverware and a run of six consecutive defeats.
Solskjaer, however, did lead the club to a second-placed finish in a disrupted 2020/21 season - such heights in the Premier League the club have failed to match under Erik ten Hag, though the Dutchman has secured two pieces of silverware.
When drawn on a potential United return, Solskjaer labelled the club as "family" and said "of course" he would accept.
"If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week," Solskjaer said in a Q&A at the Oslo Business Forum. "It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course."
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Solskjaer has been working as a technical director for UEFA since his United dismissal, and the 51-year-old also spoke of his interest in taking on the Norway managerial role - which is likely to be vacant after the 2026 World Cup with current boss Stale Solbakken expected to step down as coach after the tournament in the United States.
"I am a proud Norwegian, and of course if the question arises, when Stale decides to give up, I will happily engage in discussions," Solskjaer said. "I am a proud Norwegian and proud of where I come from."
Reeling off their worst-ever Premier League finish in 2023/24, United have slumped to a struggling start in the new campaign, picking up three wins from eight matches - and their frustrations were multiplied as they were pegged back to a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in their UEFA Europa League opener on Wednesday.
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United boss Ten Hag urged patience from the Old Trafford faithful, and said it will take time for the club's young cohort of players to truly make their mark.
"Still we are working and progressing, we made a choice to sign very young players," Ten Hag said in a news conference on Thursday. "We believe in them this moment and also for the future.
"We have to build them. That takes time. I am impatient, I want to go straight forward but also we had success in two seasons."
Despite Premier League struggles, Ten Hag has brought much-needed silverware to the club - winning the Carabao Cup in his debut campaign before enjoying FA Cup glory in the final against Manchester City last season.
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