Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in line for a lucrative payday if he returns to Manchester United as interim manager, with reports detailing a potential £1 million salary and a multi-million pound performance bonus.
Financial Details of a Potential Return
The Norwegian, who was sacked by the club in November 2021, is a leading candidate to take temporary charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim on Monday. According to reports from Norway, Solskjaer is set to be offered a weekly wage of between £50,000 and £60,000 for the role.
If he were to remain in position until the end of the season in May, this weekly rate would see him pocket a sum approaching £1 million. However, a far more significant incentive is also on the table.
The Lucrative Champions League Incentive
Manchester United currently sit two points outside the Premier League's top four. It is claimed that Solskjaer could land an additional bonus of between £3 million and £4 million if he successfully guides the team to qualification for the Champions League.
This would represent a remarkable turnaround from last season's disastrous 15th-place finish under Amorim, the club's worst in the Premier League era. Solskjaer has a proven track record in this area, having secured top-four finishes in both of his full seasons at the helm, finishing third in 2020 and second in 2021.
Solskjaer's Readiness and Neville's Warning
Since his departure, Solskjaer has publicly stated he would "jump at the chance" to manage United again. The club now sees him as a potential stop-gap solution while they identify a permanent manager for the summer.
However, his former teammate Gary Neville has expressed concern about the club repeatedly returning to its old heroes. "It's almost like a cycle and a movie that we've all seen before and Groundhog Day," Neville said on Sky Sports. He warned that any former player taking the role would come under immense pressure if results did not go their way immediately.
With the club still within touching distance of European football, the coming months are set to be crucial. The decision on who will steer the ship until May—whether Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, or another candidate—carries significant financial and sporting stakes for the future of Manchester United.
