Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been appointed as the full-time Manchester United manager on a three-year contract, the club announced on Thursday.
Manchester United have made an official announcement to confirm that they have appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a full-time basis. The Norwegian has signed a three-year contract with the Premier League heavyweights, and is the fourth permanent manager that the Red Devils have appointed since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned to Manchester United in December, 2018. This time, however, he joined the club in a managerial capacity, replacing Jose Mourinho at the helm as the caretaker boss following a tumultuous first half of the season – United had also made their worst start to a Premier League campaign.
32 – Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment at Man Utd in December, the Red Devils have won more points than any other Premier League team (32). Wheel. pic.twitter.com/J2gHZBEAwg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 28, 2019
The Red Devils though, have not looked back since Solskjaer took charge at Old Trafford, losing just three of the 19 games that he has overseen and restoring stability in the first-team setup. In the Premier League, what looked like an insurmountable 11-point deficit from the top four has now been reduced to just two points.
In addition to standing a realistic chance of finishing in the top four, Manchester United also completed a dramatic comeback in the UEFA Champions League to oust PSG in the Round of 16. The only blip in an otherwise stupendous last three months is the club’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Wolves before the international break.
Irrespective of the loss, however, Solskjaer had turned around the fortunes of Manchester United. He also brought back the attractive attacking football that the Old Trafford faithfuls had been yearning for since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, although former manager Louis van Gaal recently claimed that the team has continued to park the bus under him.
All the positive changes had reportedly put him in pole position to be handed the role of full-time manager. And, Manchester United have now confirmed the inevitable by making an official announcement, with Solskjaer being handed a three-year deal. The newly appointed permanent boss expressed his delight in a statement on the club’s official website.
“From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club. It was an honour to be a Manchester United player, and then to start my coaching career here. The last few months have been a fantastic experience and I want to thank all of the coaches, players and staff for the work we’ve done so far.”
“This is the job that I always dreamed of doing and I’m beyond excited to have the chance to lead the club long-term and hopefully deliver the continued success that our amazing fans deserve.”
Solskjaer is now the fourth manager who has been appointed on a full-time basis since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. It now remains to be seen if he can ensure Manchester United return to the summit of English football over the next three years or if the inconsistencies continue under his tutelage.
