Ole Gunnar Solskjaer open to Man United return despite sack

Posted Friday, September 27, 2024 by ESPN

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he would "say yes every day of the week" if asked by Manchester United to return to Old Trafford as manager.

Solskjaer, 51, has been out of management since being fired by United in November 2021 after almost three years in charge having initially been hired as interim manager in December 2018 following the dismissal of José Mourinho.

Although Solskjaer guided United to a second-place finish behind Manchester City in the COVID-19-impacted 2020-21 season, the former Molde coach was unable to win silverware as manager and his exit came following a run of six defeats in 11 games in late-2021, including a 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool.

But with permanent successor Erik ten Hag now under increasing pressure at United after just three wins in eight games this season, Solskjaer has said that he would not rule out a second stint as manager at Old Trafford if the club make the call.

"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."

Ten Hag, meanwhile, urged patience from United's supporters in his Thursday news conference ahead of their clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

"Still we are working and progressing, we made a choice to sign very young players," he said. "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."

Solskjaer has worked as a technical observer for UEFA since leaving United three years ago and the former Norway international helped compile the Euro 2024 technical report after covering the tournament in Germany this summer.

He has been linked with a return to management with clubs in Turkey and the Middle East, but with Norway coach Stale Solbakken expected to step down at the end of the country's 2026 World Cup campaign, Solskjaer said that he would be keen to take the national team job when it becomes available.

"I am a proud Norwegian, and of course if the question arises, when Ståle decides to give up, I will happily engage in discussions," Solskjaer said. "I am a proud Norwegian and proud of where I come from."