Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he knew his time as Manchester United manager was up midway through his final match in charge, a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021. The Norwegian, who was sacked the following day, said he realised at half-time that the end had come.
Speaking to The National, Solskjaer reflected: “I more or less knew at half-time, so my team talk was about enjoying the last 45 minutes together and giving their all.” He added that some players had “stopped running, caring” but noted that his side played well in the second half before a late collapse made the scoreline more emphatic.
Solskjaer’s dismissal came after a run of five defeats in seven Premier League games, including a 5-0 loss to Liverpool and a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. He had finished third and second in his two full seasons but struggled after the high-profile arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho.
Solskjaer is one of six permanent managers to be sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with Ruben Amorim becoming the latest on Monday. The Portuguese coach lasted just over six months in charge.
Despite the low point at Watford, Solskjaer remains one of only two managers to finish second in the Premier League post-Ferguson, alongside Jose Mourinho. He has since had a brief spell at Besiktas, lasting less than a year.
