Ole Gunnar Solskjær's emergence as a leading candidate for the interim manager role at Manchester United has been described as a risky move by Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, the club's football director and chief executive. The Norwegian, who previously managed United from December 2018 to November 2021, is reportedly favoured over Michael Carrick to take charge until the end of the season.
However, critics warn that a second stint could backfire, pointing to the chaotic end of his first tenure. After a promising start, Solskjær's final two games included a 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester City and a humiliating 4-1 loss at Watford, after which he was sacked. His emotional exit interview on the club's in-house channel highlighted his deep attachment to the club, but elite football demands results.
United currently sit sixth in the Premier League under sacked manager Ruben Amorim, who left the club with 31 points from 19 games. The hierarchy, already under fire for previous missteps—including the handling of Erik ten Hag's departure and Dan Ashworth's short-lived tenure—faces pressure to make a sound appointment. Solskjær's previous interim spell from December 2018 to March 2019 saw 14 wins in 19 games, including a dramatic Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain, which buoyed hopes of a repeat.
Yet history suggests caution. After signing a three-year deal in March 2019, United's form nosedived, with six losses in the final ten matches of the season. Subsequent campaigns brought third and second-place finishes and a Europa League final defeat, but recurring inconsistency led to his dismissal. Wilcox and Berrada must weigh the potential for a temporary lift against the risk of renewed fan frustration and further damage to the club's credibility.
